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*** 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.
Content Copyright 2008, The Sports Network. Distributed by XML Team Solutions.
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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
This entry was posted on Saturday, October 11th, 2008 at 10:41 PM and is filed under Antero Niittymaki, Danny Briere, Flyers, Game Recaps, Glen Metropolit, Jared Ross, Lasse Kukkonen, Luca Sbisa, Martin Biron, Mike Richards, New York Rangers, Randy Jones, Regular Season, Ryan Parent, Scott Hartnell, Scottie Upshall, Simon Gagne, Wachovia Center.
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