Flyers 2, Rangers 1: Wayne Simmonds collected a goal and an assist and Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 18 shots as host Philadelphia posted its first victory of the season and snapped an eight-game losing skid to New York.
Jakub Voracek added a power-play tally in the second period for the Flyers, who held a 17-8 edge in shots during the pivotal session. The victory prevented Philadelphia from starting the season with an 0-4-0 mark for the first time in franchise history.
Taylor Pyatt scored for the third straight game and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 31 saves for the Rangers. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner, who was in net during every contest of the team's season sweep of Philadelphia in 2011-12, fell to 22-11-3 in his career against the Atlantic Division rival.
Simmonds opened the scoring after defenseman Nicklas Grossmann's shot from just inside the blue line caromed off his skate and past Lundqvist with 8:07 left in the second period. Voracek doubled the advantage just over four minutes later after tapping a loose puck into the empty net while falling to his knees.
Pyatt trimmed the deficit just 1:39 into the third period after accepting Marian Gaborik's feed on the doorstep and redirecting it into the net. The Rangers couldn't solve Bryzgalov again, despite having a 5-on-3 power play midway through the third period.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Philadelphia was playing without injured star Scott Hartnell, who is expected to be sidelined for four-to-eight weeks with a broken left foot. Fellow left wing Brayden Schenn was also a spectator after he received a league-imposed one-game suspension for his hit on New Jersey D Anton Volchenkov. ... The Flyers, who went 1-for-3 on the power play, are just 2-for-18 on the season. The Rangers aren't much better, going 1-for-4 on Thursday to improve to 2-for-18 on the campaign. ... New York has enjoyed a 5-on-3 power play in each of its four games this season. The Rangers have only scored on one such occasion.
NY Rangers | Philadelphia | |
Taylor Pyatt 1 | Points | Wayne Simmonds 2 |
Taylor Pyatt 1 | Goals | Wayne Simmonds 1 |
Marian Gaborik 1 | Assists | Wayne Simmonds 1 |
Taylor Pyatt 1 | Power Play Goals | Jakub Voracek 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Henrik Lundqvist .939 | Save Percentage | Ilya Bryzgalov .947 |
Henrik Lundqvist 31 | Saves | Ilya Bryzgalov 18 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
NY Rangers | 19 | 1 | 1-4 | 2-3 | 28 | 33 |
Philadelphia | 33 | 2 | 1-3 | 3-4 | 20 | 27 |