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Gagne’s Late Goal Lifts Flyers Over Islanders

Posted on December 10th, 2008 by The FlyerFly

12/9/08

4-3 Win

SCORING	1st	2nd	3rd	OT	SO	Total
NYI	2	0	1	-	-	3
PHI	1	2	1	-	-	4

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SHOTS	1st	2nd	3rd	OT	SO	Total
NYI	11	5	11	-	-	27
PHI	11	10	4	-	-	25

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

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Simon Gagne’s power-play goal late in the third period lifted Philadelphia over the New York Islanders, 4-3, at the Wachovia Center.

Jeff Carter and Arron Asham also lit the lamp for the Flyers, who have won three of four. Darroll Powe registered his first NHL tally, and Mike Richards picked up two assists.

Martin Biron stopped 24 shots to record his ninth straight win over the Islanders.

Andy Hilbert, Doug Weight and Blake Comeau scored for the Islanders, who wasted a two-goal lead and suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

Yann Danis took the loss after allowing all four goals on 25 shots.

Gagne put the Flyers on top, 4-3, with 8:52 left in regulation, taking a backhand pass from Richards and one-timing the puck from the left circle into the net just inside the right post. The goal came just 11 seconds after Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt went off for interference.

“I had a lot of time,” said Gagne of the goal, his 14th of the season. “As a player, you like when you come in with speed and have time to tee it up.”

Biron and the Flyers’ defense clamped down from there, only allowing a handful of New York chances at even strength and with the extra skater for New York in the final minute.

The Islanders struck first, on a power play at 9:23, as Hilbert redirected Chris Campoli’s pass from the left boards past Biron.

Weight followed 1:11 later by batting in a loose puck, but Asham scored his second of the season a little more than 90 seconds after for Philadelphia’s opening tally of the contest.

Powe followed the rebound of a Richards shot for his first career tally 8:09 into the second period and a 2-2 tie, and Carter stashed home a loose puck for a one-goal lead with 3:58 left in the second.

“Our job is to go out there and create energy,” Powe said of his fourth line, which accounted for two goals in the contest.

Comeau’s wrister changed direction off the stick of Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen and dipped through Biron 2:17 into the third.
Game Notes

The Flyers have won seven in a row over the Islanders and 10 of the last 11 meetings, including all three this season, and each of the 11 have been decided by three goals or less…Carter tied Buffalo’s Thomas Vanek for the league lead in goals with 20…Danis got the nod after Joey McDonald started the previous 17 games…Biron last lost to the Isles on March 24, 2007, a 4-3 setback in Philadelphia…The Flyers continue their four-game homestand Thursday against Carolina, and the Islanders continue their four-game road swing in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

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Scoring

New York Islanders:
1. A. Hilbert (7) (C. Campoli (5), M. Streit (14)) 9:23 1st Pd
2. D. Weight (6) (S. Bergenheim (4), T. Hunter (10)) 10:24 1st Pd
6. B. Comeau (1) (J. Bailey (6), B. Guerin (9)) 2:17 3rd Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:
3. A. Asham (2) (R. Cote (1)) 11:55 1st Pd
4. D. Powe (1) (M. Richards (18), O. Vaananen (7)) 8:09 2nd Pd
5. J. Carter (20) (S. Upshall (5), S. Hartnell (9)) 16:02 2nd Pd
7. S. Gagne (14) (M. Richards (19), B. Coburn (8)) 11:08 3rd Pd

Penalties

New York Islanders:
M. Fritz (Holding) 3:20 1st Pd
M. Fritz (Fighting) 3:01 2nd Pd
. Team (Too many men) 13:49 2nd Pd
B. Guerin (High-sticking) 16:36 2nd Pd
B. Witt (Interference) 10:57 3rd Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:
S. Hartnell (Hooking) 7:44 1st Pd
M. Knuble (Hooking) 16:07 1st Pd
R. Cote (Fighting) 3:01 2nd Pd
S. Upshall (High-sticking) 16:36 2nd Pd
L. Sbisa (Tripping) 6:51 3rd Pd

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