Couturier Helps Flyers Beat Devils 5-3
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Sean Couturier had two goals and an assist and the Philadelphia Flyers posted their fourth straight win and extended New Jersey's slide to a season-high six games with a 5-3 victory over the Devils on Saturday night.
Wayne Simmonds, Travis Konecny and Michael Raffl also scored for the Flyers, who have won five of six overall. Claude Giroux had the primary assist on two power-play goals and Brian Elliott made 26 saves as Philadelphia won in New Jersey for the first time since Feb. 16. 2016.
Jesper Bratt, Kyle Palmieri and Drew Stafford scored for the Devils, who are 0-3-3 for their skid. Cory Schneider had 20 saves.
With both teams coming off their mid-season break, the game was billed as the first matchup between Nico Hischier of the Devils and Nolan Patrick of the Flyers, the top two picks in recent NHL draft.
While Hischier had the primary assist on Bratt's game-opening goal and Patrick picked up two second-period penalties, including one that led to Palmieri's goal, it was Couturier and the Flyers' special teams who stole the show.
Couturier's two goals extended his career-high to 25 and gave him seven goals in the last four games.
The Flyers, who took the first five penalties, killed off 5 of 7 and scored on their only two extra-man chances, with Couturier's second on a Giroux setup giving Philadelphia a 3-2 lead with 1:44 left in the second period.
Konecny put his own breakaway rebound past Schneider in the third, and Raffl iced the game with a backhander on an odd-man rush. Stafford scored in the final minute on a power play.
The Devils took leads of 1-0 and 2-1 before the Flyers grabbed control in coach Dave Hakstol's 100th win with the team.
Simmonds tied it at 2 on Philadelphia's first power play when Giroux's shot deflected off his knee past Schneider.
Couturier, whose previous career high for goals was 15, put Philadelphia ahead late in the second with a quick shot from between the circles.
NOTES: Flyers D Shayne Gostisbehere was scratched because of an illness. ... Flyers D Radko Gudas played in his 300th game. ... Giroux moved past Mark Recchi for eighth place on the Flyers' career scoring list with 629 points in 11 seasons. ... Taylor Hall's two assists for New Jersey gives him eight points (three goals, five assists) in the last four games.
UP NEXT
Flyers: Visit New York Rangers on Tuesday.
Devils: Visit New York Islanders on Tuesday.
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