Flyers Score Big Win Against Rangers, 4-2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Del Zotto's short-handed goal 1:19 into the third period lifted the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
Matt Read, Michael Raffl and Wayne Simmonds also scored for the Flyers, who snapped a two-game losing streak while cooling off the Rangers.
J.T. Miller and John Moore tallied for New York, which lost in regulation for the first time in 11 games (7-1-3) and had a five-game, road-winning streak snapped.
Del Zotto netted the go-ahead goal when Sean Couturier sent a cross-ice pass to him for a wrist shot from a sharp angle over goalie Cam Talbot's glove.
Steve Mason kept the Flyers ahead by turning aside several shots during a late Rangers power play. His best saves during the flurry came when he extended a pad to deny Moore and moved laterally to stop Rick Nash on the doorstep.
Mason made 34 saves in just his second game after missing eight due to a right knee injury.
Philadelphia remained six points behind Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Moore fired a slap shot over Mason's left pad from the point to put New York in front 2-1 with 8:05 left in the second period. It was Moore's first goal of the season and eighth in 211 NHL games.
Philadelphia tied it at 2 with 5:23 left in the period when Raffl deflected Braydon Coburn's shot from the point through Talbot's legs.
The Flyers had a chance to take the lead in the waning seconds of the period, but Jakub Voracek's breakaway attempt went over the net.
The Rangers appeared to take a 1-0 lead just 7 seconds into the game when Derek Stepan's turnaround shot from just in front of center ice beat Mason. But New York's Chris Kreider was called for a delayed offside, and the goal was waved off.
The Flyers scored first on Read's sixth goal of the season midway through the first period. Talbot saved Couturier's shot from the slot, but the rebound popped in the air just to the right of Talbot. Read batted it out of midair over Talbot's right pad.
The Rangers answered just 24 seconds later when they took advantage of Luke Schenn's turnover in his zone. After the turnover, Carl Hagelin passed the puck in front to Miller. Mason stopped Miller's first attempt, but Miller deked past Mason on the rebound with a nifty backhander.
Simmonds scored an empty-net goal with 0.3 seconds remaining.
NOTES: Flyers D Nicklas Grossman was struck in the head while blocking Nash's shot with 15:19 left in the second period. After staying down for several minutes, Grossman was helped off the ice and didn't return. ... Actor David Boreanaz, a Flyers fan, was in attendance and sitting next to Willie O'Ree, the first black player in the NHL. ... Two Rangers fans were ejected from the upper deck late in the third period. ... New York won the season series 3-1.
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