Image courtesy of Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
The Philadelphia Flyers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but they needed to hang on late in the game for a 4-2 decision over the Dallas Stars at the Wells Fargo Center tonight. A goal from Mark Streit, a goal from Michael Raffl, and two from Wayne Simmonds powered the Orange and Black to victory, while Steve Mason made 33 saves.
Jamie Benn did all he could for Dallas, as he scored both of the team's goals in the loss. Tim Thomas allowed four goals on 29 shots against.
It wasn't the prettiest win in their current four-game winning streak, but it was yet another pair of crucial points for the Flyers to pick up. In the midst of what may be their most difficult stretch of games this year, the Orange and Black are surging at the right time to stay in a playoff position.
Although they didn't provide their best game, it says something that the Flyers were able to walk away with a victory this evening. Finding ways to win in any sort of game, whether you are clicking on all cylinders against a below-average team or struggling against a stronger team, is key to being a team that other squads fear playing in a postseason series.
Naturally, a lot of the credit will correctly go to Simmonds for his multi-goal performance. However, something has to be said about Mason's game this evening. He led the team during the entire second period and most of the third period, as Dallas was pushing the envelope in an attempt to equalize the game. Philly started playing the Stars' game, which is end-to-end action with the teams trading scoring chances. Highlighted by two phenomenal sprawling saves during a power-play sequence in the second period, Mason made a few huge saves for the Flyers tonight, but more importantly he stopped almost every shot he saw.
After a quiet start to the game from both teams, the Flyers struck first with a blast from the point thanks to Streit. After Claude Giroux won a faceoff back to the former New York Islander, Streit stepped into a shot that flew by Tim Thomas 10:23 into the first period for his ninth goal of the season.
The Orange and Black seemed to pick up the momentum thanks to Streit's tally and went on the power play a little over two minutes later. With the man advantage, Simmonds slammed home a rebound to make it 2-0 in Philly's favor. Jakub Voracek let go of a shot from the top of the circle to the left of Thomas that was deflected by Scott Hartnell. The deflection beat Thomas, but resulted in the puck hitting the post and sitting in the crease. With Thomas out of position, Simmonds pounded home the loose disc in the blue paint for his 22nd goal of the season with 6:39 remaining in the first stanza.
The second period saw the Stars push back, as they cut the lead to one and outshot the Flyers 17-13 in the frame. The lone tally came from Benn on an elongated sequence of power-play time for the visitors.
After Mason made a pair of incredible cross-crease saves during a 5-on-3 stage, Benn slipped through several Flyers' defenders before sliding home his 28th of the season to make it a one-goal game with 7:12 remaining in the second period.
In the third period, the teams exchanged goals just 30 seconds apart, as Simmonds ripped a wrister to beat Thomas' blocker shortly before Benn put home a rebound with 7:09 left in the contest.
Raffl converted on a backhanded attempt on a breakaway with 3:12 left in the tilt to make it 4-2 in favor of the hosts.
The Orange and Black will look to make it five straight wins on Saturday afternoon, as they host the St. Louis Blues.
NOTES: The Flyers have won seven of their last eight meetings with the Stars…With the lone assist on Streit's goal, Giroux now has two goals and five assists in seven games against Dallas in his career…Mason improved to 5-4-1 against the Stars in his career. Thomas dropped to 14-5-2 against the Flyers…The Flyers had successfully killed off 20 straight penalties before Benn converted on the power play in the second period…Matt Read missed the first few minutes of the 2nd period with an equipment issue…Benn scored his first career goal against the Flyers in the second period…With an assist on both of Benn's goals, Tyler Seguin has 8 goals and 6 assists in 12 games against Flyers in career…Aaron Rome was added to the lineup late in place of Kevin Connauton. He was minus-1 with one shot on goal, three hits, and one blocked shot in 11:55 TOI…Alex Chiasson replaced Valeri Nichushkin on Dallas' top line tonight. Chiasson had an assist and a shot on goal in 19:15 TOI. Nichushkin had a shot on goal in 8:12 TOI…The Flyers improved to 1-1-0 against the Stars, 14-9-2 against the Western Conference, and to 9-5-0 against the Central Division this season…Philly is now 37-25-7. They were 40-22-7 after 69 games in 2011-2012.
