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*** 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.
Content Copyright 2008, The Sports Network. Distributed by XML Team Solutions.
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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
This entry was posted on Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 11:25 PM and is filed under Flyers, Game Recaps, Lasse Kukkonen, Martin Biron, Mike Knuble, Mike Richards, Minnesota Wild, Regular Season, Scott Hartnell, Scottie Upshall.
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