3/1/09 SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 0 0 0 - - 0 NJD 1 1 1 - - 3 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 10 6 11 - - 27 NJD 11 18 13 - - 42

*** PostGame Interviews & Coach’s Press Conference ***

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Newark, NJ (Sports Network) – Martin Brodeur registered 27 saves for his 100th career shutout, and the New Jersey Devils blanked the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-0, at Prudential Center in a key Atlantic Division battle.

Brodeur recorded his second shutout in three games since returning from a 50- game absence due to a triceps injury. He now stands three whitewashes behind Terry Sawchuk for the all-time record. The victory was also the 547th regular season win in his illustrious career, only four behind former Canadiens and Avalanche standout Patrick Roy for the most all-time.

Jamie Langenbrunner, Johnny Oduya and Brian Gionta tallied the goals for New Jersey, which has won eight of 10 overall and all three games Brodeur has started since his return.

The Devils now stand nine points ahead of Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division lead after their seventh straight home victory.

Martin Biron allowed three goals on 42 shots, as the Flyers lost back-to-back games for the first time in almost a month. Philadelphia also had a four-game road winning streak snapped.

The Flyers continued their ineptitude in the Garden State, losing for the 14th time in the last 15 games on the road against New Jersey.

The Devils struck first, just 3:51 into the game. From behind the net, Zach Parise passed out in front to Langenbrunner, who deposited the puck above Biron’s left shoulder for the goal.

New Jersey extended its lead to two early in the second period as Gionta deflected an Oduya slapshot from the top of the slot at the 37 second mark.

Philadelphia seemed sluggish in the middle stanza, registering just six shots on net. Conversely, the Devils dominated the period, hammering Biron with 18 shots.

Oduya put the game away in the third, beating Biron on the short side from the top of the left circle just under five minutes into the period.

The Flyers couldn’t muster anything offensively for the remainder of the game, and Brodeur made 11 saves in the frame to come away with his milestone shutout.

Game Notes

Langenbrunner recorded his 200th career goal…New Jersey leads the season series, 3-2, including three wins in a row over the Flyers…Including playoffs, Brodeur has the most shutouts in NHL history (122). He has four shutouts this season, and his 43 wins against the Flyers are the most he has recorded against any opponent…Flyers forward Danny Briere made his first appearance since December 2, missing 36 games with a groin injury. He logged 16:48 of ice time and registered two shots on goal…To make room for Briere’s salary, the Flyers assigned forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Lasse Kukkonen to the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL. the club also recalled defenseman Nate Guenin from the Phantoms…Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen missed his fourth straight game with the flu…The clubs meet one final time this season, in Philadelphia, on March 23.

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Game Summary

Scoring Summary

NJD 3:51 Goal scored by Jamie Langenbrunner (20) Assisted by Zach Parise (39) and Travis Zajac (36)

Penalty Summary

NJD 5:26 2 minute penalty on Bryce Salvador for Cross-checking
PHI 13:31 2 minute penalty on Darroll Powe for Hooking

2nd Period

Scoring Summary

NJD 0:37 Goal scored by Brian Gionta (14) Assisted by Johnny Oduya (20) and Dainius Zubrus (21)

Penalty Summary

NJD 1:50 2 minute penalty on Bobby Holik for Interference
PHI 11:14 2 minute penalty on Scottie Upshall for Tripping
PHI 12:03 2 minute penalty on Mike Knuble for Hooking
PHI 15:36 2 minute penalty on Scott Hartnell for Goaltender Interference

3rd Period

Scoring Summary

NJD 4:48 Goal scored by Johnny Oduya (5) Assisted by David Clarkson (13) and Brendan Shanahan (4)

Penalty Summary

NJD 1:48 2 minute penalty on Bobby Holik for Roughing
PHI 1:48 2 minute penalty on Danny Briere for Stick Holding

1/8/09 3-1 Win SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total MIN 1 0 0 - - 1 PHI 0 1 2 - - 3 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total MIN 7 10 11 - - 28 PHI 7 8 8 - - 23

*** PostGame Interviews & Coach’s Press Conference ***

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Scottie Upshall registered a goal and one assist as Philadelphia tripped up Minnesota, 3-1, at the Wachovia Center.

Scott Hartnell and Mike Knuble also lit the lamp for the Flyers, who snapped a two-game losing streak but picked up a point for the fifth consecutive game (3-0-2).

With the victory, Philly jumped into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division and extended its streak to 13 consecutive home games without a regulation loss (11-0-2), since a 2-1 setback to Tampa Bay on November 8.

Martin Biron made 27 saves, improving to 3-0-1 in his last four starts and 14-7-5 on the season.

Stephane Veilleux had the lone tally for the Wild, who had won three of four coming in and allowed just five goals over that span. After blanking Colorado and East-leading Boston in consecutive starts, Niklas Backstrom took the loss by allowing three goals on 23 shots.

The Flyers assumed a 2-1 lead 5:10 into the third on a power play. Mike Richards fired from the boards near the right point and the shot was tipped by Knuble off Backstrom’s blocker. The puck slithered towards the goal line, but an instant before the Wild netminder covered, the disc slid into the net.

Upshall provided the clincher, snapping a wrister from the right wing to finish off a 2-on-1 break with 7:42 left in the contest for a 3-1 Philly advantage.

Hartnell went off for tripping with 2:17 left in the contest and Minnesota picked up an extra skater with a minute remaining, but the Flyers came up with the better chances against the open net in the final seconds.

Veilleux put the Wild on the board with 7:49 left in the first period, one- timing a sliding feed from Cal Clutterbuck.

Hartnell evened the score by knocking home a loose puck from the right side of the crease 7:10 into the second.

Game Notes

The Flyers improved to 6-2-1 in the overall series, which began when the Wild entered the NHL in 2000, and have won the last four meetings…Prior to the contest, Philly placed defenseman Lasse Kukkonen on waivers…Upshall’s last multi-point game came in a 7-6 shootout loss to San Jose on October 22…The Flyers continue their three-game homestand by welcoming Toronto on Saturday, and the Wild head to Columbus also on Saturday…Minnesota came up empty on eight chances with the man advantage, and Philadelphia scored on its lone power play.

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Scoring

Minnesota Wild:
1. S. Veilleux (6) (C. Clutterbuck (2), K. Johnsson (10)) 12:11 1st Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:
2. S. Hartnell (16) (A. Alberts (9), S. Upshall (9)) 7:10 2nd Pd
3. M. Knuble (15) (M. Richards (28), K. Timonen (23)) 5:10 3rd Pd
4. S. Upshall (6) 12:18 3rd Pd

Penalties

Minnesota Wild:
J. Scott (Roughing) 2:58 1st Pd
E. Reitz (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 14:07 1st Pd
E. Reitz (Fighting) 16:11 1st Pd
C. Weller (Interference) 5:03 3rd Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:
J. Gratton (Roughing) 2:58 1st Pd
S. Hartnell (Hooking) 8:44 1st Pd
A. Asham (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 14:07 1st Pd
A. Asham (Fighting) 16:11 1st Pd
O. Vaananen (Tripping) 17:25 1st Pd
M. Knuble (Hooking) 8:20 2nd Pd
Bench Minor (Too Many Men) 9:17 2nd Pd
S. Hartnell (Cross-checking) 11:49 2nd Pd
M. Knuble (Cross-checking) 16:34 2nd Pd
A. Alberts (Hooking) 9:47 3rd Pd
S. Hartnell (Tripping) 17:43 3rd Pd

The news on Randy Jones has finally come down, and Flyers fans…it’s not good.

Jones has been sitting out because of a torn labrum in his right hip, and after further examination, it has been announced by the Flyers that Jones will be lost from the roster for anywhere from 12-16 weeks.

The labrum tear was so severe that surgery could not be avoided, and the extent to which corrective action is to be taken was greater than initially thought. Jones will undergo hip surgery in Nashville later this week.

As large as the hole is that’s created by Jones’ absence (he was expected to be the #3 or #4 D-man), it is multiplied by the previous injury news regarding his fellow young blueliner, Ryan Parent. Parent is also slated to be out for 12-16 weeks due to a labrum tear in his shoulder. But the Flyers were already going to have their hands full by leaning so heavily on a youthful, marginally experienced defensive squad. Now, they are forced to ask even more of Braydon Coburn, Lasse Kukkonen, and rookie sensation Luca Sbisa.

Sbisa has made the team out of camp, although it is still unclear if the Flyers will keep him in the NHL beyond the first 9 games of the season. After that, they will either have to send him back to his Juniors team, or commit to keep him on the active roster for the rest of the season.

There is also sufficient and credible reason to believe that Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren will be pursuing a veteran defenseman via trade. To do that though, salary will need to be shed. And as most Flyers fans know, as soon as one begins speaking of salary cap casualties, one has to be thinking immediately of Mike Knuble.

Time will tell how the Flyers will manage to get out of their early season defensive quagmire, but Holmgren is surely aware that he can’t allow any bleeding to continue for long. The last thing the Flyers want to be doing is sacrificing early points that could matter big time as the hotly competitive Atlantic Division promises to be tight once again in the 2008-09 season.

10/11/08 4-3 Loss SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total NYR 4 0 0 - - 4 PHI 0 2 1 - - 3 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total NYR 14 9 4 - - 27 PHI 9 12 7 - - 28

*** PostGame Interviews & Coach’s Press Conference ***

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Nikolai Zherdev picked up a goal and one assist, and Michal Rozsival netted the game-winner as the New York Rangers held off a furious rally to top the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, at the Wachovia Center.

Blair Betts and Fredrik Sjostrom also lit the lamp for the Rangers, who rode a four-goal first period to the victory. The club improved to 4-0 for the first time since starting the 1983-84 campaign with five consecutive wins.

Stephen Valiquette made 25 stops for his first win of the season.

Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne and Mike Richards tallied for the Flyers, who have dropped three of their last four home openers. Daniel Briere picked up two helpers in the loss.

Martin Biron had a horrible start, allowing four goals on 14 shots through 16- plus minutes before his departure. Antero Niittymaki stopped all 13 shots he faced for the remainder of the contest.

When Rozsival netted the fourth Rangers goal of the first period — another power-play tally — at 16:13, Biron’s night was over in favor of Niittymaki.

The Flyers came within 4-1 with 3:13 gone in the second, as Glen Metropolit won a left-circle draw back to Hartnell for a one-timer high over Valiquette’s glove.

Gagne tallied his first goal of the season with 3:51 to play in the period, as he settled a loose puck in front and managed to get it past a fallen Valiquette.

After wasting a power play chance in the opening minutes of the third, Philly crept within 4-3 at 5:38. Briere cruised down the right wing and waited until the last second to dish into the crease, where Richards tipped the puck home.

Rangers forward Scott Gomez hit the crossbar on a power-play shot prior to the midway point of the period, and Richards’ tip a few minutes later ringed off the left post.

The Flyers then squandered a two-man advantage and Valiquette stoned Richards from 10 feet out with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.

Niittymaki was called to the bench with under a minute to go and Valiquette made two more stops down the stretch to lock up the game for New York.

Zherdev took a rebound and netted the first goal of the contest at 4:12 just as a Rangers’ man-advantage expired.

A little more than a minute later Zherdev fed Betts for a one-timer in the slot which beat Biron for a 2-0 New York lead.

Sjostrom beat Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen to a dump-in behind Biron, circled the net and snuck a stuffer into an empty cage at 8:30 to put the Blueshirts ahead by three.
Game Notes

The Rangers have won 11 of the last 13 games in Philadelphia since 2005…Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was involved in a ceremonial pre-game puck drop…Philadelphia missed defensemen Ryan Parent (shoulder) and Randy Jones (hip), both of whom are out of the lineup long- term…Philly backliner Luca Sbisa and forward Jared Ross made their NHL debuts…The Flyers fell to 23-12-6 all-time in 41 home openers, and dropped to 6-4-2 when starting the year at the Wachovia Center.

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Scoring

New York Rangers:
1. N. Zherdev (A. Voros, D. Girardi) 4:12 1st Pd
2. B. Betts (N. Zherdev, D. Girardi) 5:15 1st Pd
3. F. Sjostrom (B. Betts, C. Orr) 8:30 1st Pd
4. M. Rozsival (S. Gomez, M. Naslund) 16:13 1st Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:
5. S. Hartnell (G. Metropolit) 3:13 2nd Pd
6. S. Gagne (D. Briere) 16:09 2nd Pd
7. M. Richards (D. Briere, S. Eminger) 5:38 3rd Pd

Penalties

New York Rangers:
C. Orr (Fighting) 1:48 1st Pd
P. Mara (Roughing) 15:17 1st Pd
B. Dubinsky (Fighting) 16:23 1st Pd
F. Sjostrom (Holding) 6:04 2nd Pd
P. Mara (Roughing) 12:31 2nd Pd
S. Gomez (Roughing) 19:25 2nd Pd
D. Kalinin (Slashing) 3:00 3rd Pd
B. Dubinsky (Stick Holding) 10:25 3rd Pd
S. Gomez (Hooking) 10:51 3rd Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:
R. Cote (Fighting) 1:48 1st Pd
J. Ross (Holding) 2:11 1st Pd
M. Richards (Roughing) 15:17 1st Pd
D. Briere (Goaltender Interference) 15:17 1st Pd
M. Richards (Fighting) 16:23 1st Pd
M. Knuble (Tripping) 2:25 2nd Pd
B. Coburn (Boarding) 10:37 2nd Pd
L. Sbisa (Tripping) 17:02 2nd Pd
B. Coburn (Holding) 8:52 3rd Pd

Game 3 – Eastern Conference

4/28/08 3-2 Win Flyers lead series 2-1 SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT Total MON 0 0 2 - 2 PHI 0 3 0 - 3 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT Total MON 8 9 17 - 34 PHI 5 7 2 - 14

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Martin Biron made 32 saves and Philadelphia scored three times in the second period as the Flyers held on for a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference seimfinals at Wachovia Center.

Scottie Upshall, Mike Richards and R.J. Umberger each scored a goal for the Flyers, who now hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Tomas Plekanec and Saku Koivu each had a goal while Carey Price was charged with all three goals on 12 shots for the Canadiens. Price was pulled from net after the second period and Jaroslav Halak finished the third by stopping the only two shots he faced.

Game 4 is set to take place on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

After a scoreless first period, the Flyers exploded for three goals in the middle frame.

The first came a bit over seven minutes in as Joffrey Lupul brought the puck into the zone and left a drop pass at the right point for Upshall, who fired a wrister past Price at the low left side.

Skating shorthanded, Richards fired a simple low wrister from the low slot that hit off of Hab defenseman Mike Komisarek and then off the glove of Price before trickling into the net with 4:48 left in the frame.

Just over three minutes later, Jeff Carter attempted a wraparound shot from the right side that Price stopped, but the rebound kicked out to the left circle where Umberger fired it home for a 3-0 lead.

Biron, who was stellar in the first period, didn’t need to make many difficult saves in the second, but did stop all nine shots thrown his way in the frame.

Montreal got a nice present from the Flyers in the third period as Derian Hatcher got a five-minute major for boarding, along with a game misconduct, with 14:43 to play in regulation and the top-ranked power play in the regular season went to work.

The Habs wasted the first two minutes of the advantage, but scored twice before it expired to make it a one-goal game.

A shot from the right point got behind Biron and sat on the goal line by the left post before Plekanec poked it in at 7:29.

Only 1:12 later, Andrei Markov fired a shot from the left point that Biron stopped, but Koivu emerged from a scrum in front and tucked the rebound into an open net to make it a 3-2 contest.

Montreal got another power play opportunity with under six minutes to play as Lasse Kukkonen was called for interference, but the penalty killers did a good job of keeping the puck to the outside and Biron easily stopped the shots sent his way.

With under a minute remaining, the Habs got Halak out of the net for the extra attacker and had the puck in the Flyers end for almost the entire time, but were unable to get any quality scoring chances as the Flyers held on for the win.

The first 20 minutes of the game were scoreless, but Montreal had several chances to take the lead.

A bit over six minutes in, Koivu skated in on a breakaway down the right side. As he cut to the front, Biron used his stick to poke the puck away from Koivu before he was able to get a shot off.

Halfway through the frame, Steve Downie and Sami Kapanen were both whistled for minors to give the Habs a full two minutes of 5-on-3 power play time. Their best opportunity came when Mark Streit had the puck in the slot with an open shooting lane and fired a blast on net, but Biron flashed the glove to swallow the puck.

In all, Biron made eight saves while Price made five in the first period.

Game Notes
Umberger has four goals in his last three games…Montreal was 9-1 in playoff games in Philadelphia coming into the contest…The Canadiens enjoyed a 17-2 shot advantage in the third period…Montreal finished the game 2-for-8 on the power play while Philadelphia went 0-for-3…Philadelphia forward Mike Knuble, who suffered a torn hamstring in Game 5 of the quarterfinals against Washington and has been out since then, might return for Game 4.

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Scoring

Montreal Canadiens:

4. T. Plekanec (G. Latendresse, S. Kostitsyn) 7:29 3rd Pd
5. S. Koivu (A. Markov, C. Higgins) 8:41 3rd Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:

1. S. Upshall (J. Lupul) 7:04 2nd Pd
2. M. Richards 15:12 2nd Pd
3. R. Umberger (J. Carter, B. Coburn) 18:19 2nd Pd

Penalties

Montreal Canadiens:

S. Koivu (Hooking) 3:56 1st Pd
M. Lapierre (Roughing) 17:59 1st Pd
M. Komisarek (Roughing) 17:59 1st Pd
F. Bouillon (Delay of Game) 0:32 2nd Pd
Bench (Too Many Men) 16:24 3rd Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:

S. Kapanen (Hooking) 10:28 1st Pd
S. Downie (Slashing) 10:28 1st Pd
D. Hatcher (Roughing) 17:59 1st Pd
S. Downie (Tripping) 17:59 1st Pd
S. Downie (Roughing) 17:59 1st Pd
L. Kukkonen (Stick Holding) 13:42 2nd Pd
D. Hatcher (Game Misconduct) 5:17 3rd Pd
D. Hatcher (Boarding Major) 5:17 3rd Pd
L. Kukkonen (Interference) 14:01 3rd Pd

Everything looked to be in place for the Flyers last night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Washington Capitals. A three goal 2nd period gave the Flyers a great 2 goal cushion over the Caps going into the final period, but somehow, the Flyers left the fight and determination that had earned them the lead back in the locker room when they emerged for the 3rd.

The result…a disheartening 5-4 Loss and a 0-1 series deficit. All of this coming from a game that they likely should have won.

And to add insult to injury, the Flyers also were on the receiving end of a storybook playoff debut for the likely Hart Trophy winner, Alexander Ovechkin. Ovy was held in check through the majority of the night, but he broke through at just the right time and took advantage of a defensive miscue by Lasse Kukkonen right in front of his own net. Kukkonen was slow to move the puck forward, and Ovechkin snuck up from behind to steal the puck before unleashing a lasering shot to the top of the net over a fallen Martin Biron.

As Flyers fans, we’ve seen this scenario far too often this season. The Flyers have a solid 3rd period lead only to give up a late tying or game winning goal. The script has been read over and over.

And the same question has been asked over and over as well. “Why can’t these guys seal the deal?” The answer is killer instinct, or lack thereof.

Once you make it this far, there shouldn’t be much opportunity for critics to question your heart, or your ability to shut down an opponent when you have a sizeable 3rd period lead. But we continue to see it.

Does it fall on the coaching? Does it fall on the players? No one at this point of the year is really sure. But if the Flyers are going to get over this trend of theirs and have a chance of taking this series, there had better have been a gut check in the locker room after last night’s game.

Game 1 – Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

4/11/08 5-4 Loss Capitals lead series 1-0 SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT Total PHI 1 3 0 - 4 WSH 1 1 3 - 5 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT Total PHI 6 13 3 - 22 WSH 4 11 12 - 27

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Washington, DC (Sports Network) – Alexander Ovechkin scored the game-winning goal with just 4:32 to play as the Washington Capitals rallied from a two-goal deficit to take Game 1 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-4, at Verizon Center.

The league-leader in points and goals this season, Ovechkin didn’t disappoint in his first playoff game as he stripped the puck off Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen in front of the net and lifted a shot past a sprawled-out Martin Biron for the go-ahead score.

The Capitals then used a stifling defense to keep the Flyers from establishing any pressure as the team held on for the win in their first playoff appearance since 2003.

Ovechkin also had an assist while Mike Green scored a pair of goals for the third-seeded Capitals, who have won their last eight games overall. Cristobal Huet stopped 18 shots in the win.

Danny Briere and Vinny Prospal each scored two goals and added an assist for the Flyers, who took the sixth spot in the playoffs after finishing last season dead last in the NHL. Biron made 22 saves in the loss.

Game Two is set to take place on Sunday afternoon in Washington.

Trailing 4-2, Sergei Fedorov took a pass in front of the net and sent a backhand pass to the right side where Green came flying in and tapped the puck past Biron just 1:50 into the third.

Washington then tied the game on the power play at the 6:26 mark. With Flyers forward Patrick Thoresen hurt on the ice after blocking a shot, essentially giving the Caps a 5-on-3, Green ripped a shot from the right point that beat Biron before he could react.

The Capitals wasted no time in grabbing the lead. Shortly after a power play for Washington expired, Matt Bradley threw a shot on net from the left point that bounced off a player in front and went to the right side where Donald Brashear knocked it in at the 3:16 mark of the first.

Philadelphia, though, responded just five minutes later to tie the contest. Holding the puck at the right circle, Prospal threw a quick wrister on net that went through a screen and into the right corner.

Washington took a 2-1 lead at the 4:08 mark of the second period. Bradley chased down the puck in the right corner and sent a behind-the-back pass to David Steckel, who took a stride to the front and buried a wrister high over the glove of Biron.

Philadelphia, though, answered with three straight goals over a span of 3:36 in the second to take a 4-2 lead.

Just moments after a Washington power play expired, Mike Knuble found Briere, who had just exited the penalty box, for a lead pass on the right wing and Briere snapped a wrister through on the far side at 11:48.

Just 33 seconds later, the Flyers used a 3-on-2 break to take the lead as Kimmo Timonen fed a pass from the right point to the slot and from 20 feet out Prospal blasted the puck home through Huet’s five-hole.

With 4:38 remaining, the Flyers power play struck as Mike Richards sent a pass from the low right side over to the left where an uncovered Briere one-timed it into the net.

Game Notes
Each team went 1-for-3 on the power play…The Capitals have won two of the three all-time playoff series against the Flyers. Washington posted series wins over Philly in 1984 and 1988, but the Flyers won the last postseason meeting between the clubs in 1989…Thoresen left the game with an undisclosed injury after the Capitals’ power-play goal and did not return.

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SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

WSH – 03:16 Donald Brashear, Assists: Matt Bradley and Tom Poti
PHI – 08:17 Vaclav Prospal, Assists: Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell

2nd Period

WSH – 04:08 David Steckel, Assists: Matt Bradley and John Erskine
PHI – 11:46 Daniel Briere, Assists: Mike Knuble
PHI – 12:19 Vaclav Prospal, Assists: Daniel Briere and Lasse Kukkonen
PHI – 15:22 PPG – Daniel Briere, Assists: Mike Richards and Vaclav Prospal

3rd Period

WSH – 01:50 Mike Green, Assists: Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Semin
WSH – 06:26 PPG – Mike Green, Assists: Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom
WSH – 15:28 Alexander Ovechkin, Assists: none

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period

PHI – 01:14 Knuble, M. : Slashing – 2 min
WSH – 11:06 Jurcina, M. : Boarding – 2 min

2nd Period

PHI – 09:38 Briere, D. : Slashing – 2 min
WSH – 13:46 Cooke, M. : Interference – 2 min
WSH – 18:11 Green, M. : Delaying Game-Puck over glass – 2 min

3rd Period

PHI – 05:22 Briere, D. : Hi-sticking – 2 min

3/23/08 4-1 Win SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total NYI 0 0 1 - - 1 PHI 1 1 2 - - 4 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total NYI 8 15 10 - - 33 PHI 14 4 8 - - 26

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Danny Briere registered a goal and two assists as the Philadelphia Flyers coasted by the New York Islanders, 4-1, at the Wachovia Center.

Vinny Prospal added a goal and one helper for the Flyers, who have won three straight and moved two points ahead of idle Boston into sole possession of the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with 86 points.

Braydon Coburn and Scott Hartnell also lit the lamp, while Martin Biron made 32 stops, improving to 6-0 this season against the Islanders.

The win also moves the club within two points of the sixth-seeded New York Rangers, who welcome the Flyers to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

Miroslav Satan scored for the Islanders, who have dropped seven of their last eight games. Joey MacDonald allowed four goals on 26 shots in defeat, his third career setback against Philly.

After wasting an early power-play chance, the Flyers capitalized on a two-man advantage at 12:01 of the first. Briere dragged the puck across the top of the left circle and dished over to Prospal for a slam dunk at the right side of the crease.

New York’s Josef Vasicek nearly tied the game with 1:24 left in the period, as his shot through a screen deflected high off Biron. The puck wobbled in the air and settled a fraction of an inch inside the right post behind the unaware netminder where defenseman Lasse Kukkonen swept it out of harm’s way.

Coburn’s power-play rocket from the bottom of the right circle made it 2-0 for the home team midway through the second, and Briere added another tap-in with the extra man at 5:34 of the third.

Hartnell made it a four-goal edge at 7:59, as he laid his stick on the ice at the right post just in time to deflect Prospal’s cross-crease pass over MacDonald.

Satan’s right-circle drive on the power play zipped past Biron to break his shutout with 4:27 left in regulation, but the Flyers expertly killed off the remainder of that disadvantage and posted their 19th home win of the season.

Game Notes
The Flyers have won six of seven meetings over the Islanders this season, with one more contest scheduled between the teams March 29 in Uniondale…Philadelphia improved to 30-4-2 when allowing two goals or less…Satan snapped a 13-game goalless streak…The Flyers finished 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Islanders went 1-for-7…Philly forward Patrick Thoresen skated in his 100th NHL game.

Content Copyright 2008, The Sports Network. Distributed by XML Team Solutions.
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SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

PHI – 12:01 PPG – Vaclav Prospal, Assists: Daniel Briere and Mike Knuble

2nd Period

PHI – 09:36 PPG – Braydon Coburn, Assists: Jaroslav Modry and Joffrey Lupul

3rd Period

PHI – 05:34 PPG – Daniel Briere, Assists: Mike Richards and Kimmo Timonen
PHI – 07:59 Scott Hartnell, Assists: Vaclav Prospal and Daniel Briere
NYI – 15:33 PPG – Miroslav Satan, Assists: Bryan Berard and Richard Park

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period

NYI – 07:14 Vasicek, J. : Interference – 2 min
NYI – 11:09 Vasicek, J. : Cross checking – 2 min
NYI – 11:53 Spiller, M. : Tripping – 2 min
PHI – 16:05 Smith, J. : Delay of game – 2 min

2nd Period

PHI – 02:23 Richards, M. : Hooking – 2 min
PHI – 05:30 Dowd, J. : Hooking – 2 min
NYI – 07:38 Bergenheim, S. : Hooking – 2 min
PHI – 19:02 Prospal, V. : Interference – 2 min

3rd Period

NYI – 03:41 Colliton, J. : Hi-sticking – 2 min
PHI – 13:56 Dowd, J. : Holding – 2 min
PHI – 15:33 Dowd, J. : Unsportsmanlike conduct – 2 min
PHI – 18:05 Richards, M. : Boarding – 2 min