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*** PostGame Interviews & Coach’s Press Conference ***
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Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Jonathan Quick recorded 31 saves and stopped both Philadelphia tries in the shootout, as the Los Angeles Kings topped the Flyers, 2-1, at Staples Center.
Wayne Simmonds scored a power-play goal in regulation, while Patrick O’Sullivan and Anze Kopitar lit the lamp in the shootout to help the Kings halt a four-game slide.
Scott Hartnell tallied Philly’s lone goal, and Antero Niittymaki made 30 saves in defeat. With the hard-earned point, the Flyers, who are 2-3 on a six-game road trip, moved past the Rangers for first place in the Atlantic Division with 50 points.
“I thought the pace was really high and the goaltending was strong,” Philadelphia head coach John Stevens said. “I think it’s great to see our hockey team come out and respond on the road after the way we started.”
Hartnell’s back-hander on a penalty shot with 1:40 to play in the first period sailed over the net and the game was scoreless after 20 minutes of play.
The winger made up for the errant try just 3:01 into the second, however, with his 15th goal of the season.
Simmonds tied it on the man-advantage with 3:55 remaining in the middle stanza, as his shot from the top of the left circle went through a screen and between the pads of Niittymaki, who didn’t even see the shot.
Niittymaki and Quick made 10 and eight saves, respectively, in the third to keep it knotted at one goal apiece, and neither could get the puck across the goal line in the extra session.
“It was a much needed two points for us,” Kings head coach Terry Murray said. “Going into the third period, talking with the team, there was a need to come out and play with a high level of passion. We had to go after it. We need to keep pace with our conference and get ourselves into a better position and the guys responded.”
O’Sullivan scored first for the Kings on a wrister, and after Quick stoned Jeff Carter and Mike Richards’ attempts, Dustin Brown faked a shot in the middle, before his quick wrister beat Niittymaki top shelf to seal the win.
Game Notes
Philadelphia finishes off its road trek at Washington on Tuesday…The Flyers had won two straight versus the Kings…Philly did not score on its three power play chances, while LA was 1-for-6 with the extra skater…Scottie Upshall (knee) returned for the Flyers and doled out an assist…In his last five starts, Quick has allowed only four goals (0.79 goals-against average).
Content Copyright 2008, The Sports Network. Distributed by XML Team Solutions.
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Scoring
Philadelphia Flyers:
1. S. Hartnell (15) (S. Upshall (8), J. Kalinski (2)) 3:01 2nd Pd
Los Angeles Kings:
2. W. Simmonds (3) (K. Quincey (19), T. Purcell (5)) 16:05 2nd Pd
Shootout Detail
Round 1: Phi, J. Carter (Missed); LA, P. O’Sullivan (Made)
Round 2: Phi, M. Richards (Missed); LA, A. Kopitar (Missed)
Round 3: LA, D. Brown (Made)
Penalties
Philadelphia Flyers:
J. Carter (Tripping) 0:22 1st Pd
S. Hartnell (Cross-checking) 20:00 1st Pd
S. Upshall (Interference) 5:04 2nd Pd
M. Knuble (Hooking) 9:41 2nd Pd
B. Coburn (Tripping) 14:06 2nd Pd
S. Upshall (Slashing) 10:56 3rd Pd
Los Angeles Kings:
B. Boyle (Hooking) 8:02 1st Pd
R. Ivanans (Roughing) 8:24 2nd Pd
D. Doughty (Hooking) 12:37 3rd Pd
This entry was posted on Sunday, January 4th, 2009 at 1:52 AM and is filed under Antero Niittymaki, Flyers, Game Recaps, Jeff Carter, John Stevens, Los Angeles Kings, Mike Richards, Regular Season, Scott Hartnell, Scottie Upshall.
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