Weak goals kill Flyers
NEW YORK -- There were punches. There were nasty hits. There was blood spilled on on the Madison Square Garden ice.
Weak goals kill Flyers
NEW YORK -- There were punches. There were nasty hits. There was blood spilled on on the Madison Square Garden ice.
But for the Flyers, there haven’t been many wins. And wins, not fights, fuel rivalries.
Twice after the Flyers clawed back in the contest to erase one-goal deficits, Ilya Bryzgalov allowed soft goals and the Rangers continued their dominance over the Flyers with a 5-2 win that served as the appetizer in New York on Super Bowl Sunday.
The Flyers topped New York in 4 straight games to start last season and it’s been all Rangers since. Sunday marked the Rangers’ sixth straight win over the Flyers. New York has outscored the Flyers, 24-8, since March 6, 2011.
Sunday’s start was an ominous one for the Flyers, as Artem Anisimov’s redirection beat Bryzgalov just 64 seconds into the game.
The Flyers had registered just 7 shots in the first 28 minutes of the game.
But Brayden Schenn’s beautiful backhander on a breakaway out of the box in the second period, which shattered Henrik Lundqvist’s career-high shutout streak at 182:37, appeared to get the Flyers back into it.
That was until Marian Gaborik’s weak dribbler with 5.1 seconds left in the second period sent the Rangers to the locker room with a 2-1 lead. Gaborik, the Rangers’ leading scorer, was crushed along the boards by Andrej Meszaros and was slow to get up. He somehow retrieved the puck and leaked a backhander through Bryzgalov’s pads.
Somehow, Bryzgalov’s stick wasn’t in the right position as he tried to pokecheck Gaborik’s take from behind the net.
And that wasn’t even the Flyers’ backbreaker.
Wayne Simmonds scored just 57 seconds into the third period to knot the game on the power play - and Bryzgalov gave it back just 36 seconds later.
Michael Del Zotto left off a snap shot at the right circle on a 3-on-2 rush, which bounced off Bryzgalov’s pads and into the net to give New York a crippling 3-2 lead. Brandon Dubinsky iced it for the Rangers with 7:45 to play. Ruslan Fedotenko added an empty-netter.
The difference, as it has been most of the season, came down to the goaltending. Lundqvist has now held opponents to 2 or fewer goals in 26 of his 38 appearances this season.
The Flyers entered the weekend - with back-to-back games against Atlantic division rivals - with a chance to take over first place in both the division and the conference. They skated out of New York winless on the weekend. And winless against the Rangers.
SLAP SHOTS: Wayne Simmonds set a new career-high with 17 goals ... Brayden Schenn’s goal was his 3rd in his last 5 games ... Tom Sestito was dealt a game misconduct after fighting 3 times, twice with Stu Bickel and once with Brandon Prust ... There were 4 fights in all in Sunday’s matinee.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
going back to the boston 6-0 loss this team is 10-12 which includes some overtime losses shootout losses but this is a trend for a couple months now that this team is medicore. Need a stud D and a goaltender that does not allow soft goals.— Ordca3- abysmal...— thefullmonty
- like the eagles, its over johnny!— GodandGuns
- Saying that the Flyers need to acquire a D-men is glaringly obvious. But the fact that Bryzgalov is still letting in weak goal after weak goal in February is concerning and will be the achilles heal in the playoffs.— stockdalec12243
Does anybody think Bryzgalov is going to lead the Flyers deep into the playoffs?- Does anyone even think at this point in time he is capable of STARTING a playoff game.
Bryz is a 51 million dollar albatross. Think what that money could have purchased, especially when we knew Pronger is on his last knee surgery before he needs total knee replacement. If it wasn't the concussions, it was multiple effects of a list of prior injuries.
START BOB!!! - No, I do not have confidence in Bryz starting a playoff game. But i have even less confidence in Bob-- 6 goals on 23 shots in half a game vs. the Devils is worse than 4 goals on 36 shots against the best team in the league playing at home. And you know this is true.
What makes you think Bob is a starting goalie for the playoffs? His zero playoff wins? Zero career shutouts? Being pulled in 2 of his i think 4 playoff starts? What has he done, other than beat the bottom feeders of the league, to show you that he is capable of leading this team through the playoffs? And even with playing weak opponents, his nevertheless 30th ranked save percentage and 29th ranked GAA is not inspiring. I know you love him and all, but he has not been that good. 
Comment removed.- mr softee strikes again. gosh, bryz is weak— Old German
- Divorski was brutal all weekend. No call on the Giroux breakaway penalty and phantom calls on Rinaldo and Vorachec. Two soft goals by Bryz just killed them. So will DWL or whatever his name is be here to defend him?— Sidewinder7
- Just about time for Bob to take over, he hasn't been perfect but light years ahead of Bryz.— Sidewinder7
- Everybody beats the Bryz...— hallux
- Two softies from Bryz, one horrible turnover cost the Flyers another game against the Rangers. This loss in contrast to yesterday's was due to a few individual mistakes, not poor team play. As of this moment, the Rangers and Bruins are the teams to beat in the East. However, let's not forget the many injuries the Flyers have had to compensate. With Briere and JVR back in and more solid netminding the Flyers may still have a chance against these two clubs ín the postseason. Actually, I was wondering on some occasions if the 2012 version of the NY Rangers were simply the NJ Devils from about a decade ago dressed in cream-colored throwback jerseys. They seem to have the same winning formula.— flyerdommo
If you thought the wrap-around goal that the Sieve gave up to Gregory Campbell in that 6-5 loss to Boston was bad, that's because you hadn't seen the one he gave up to Gaborik...with 5.1 seconds to play. He also sucks in shootouts, making 2 saves on 8 shots by opposing teams and posting an 0-3 record. Can't take 8 more years of this, send Ilya to Siberia...Jagr played there last year and can give him directions...Everybody in Philly wants to tell Bryz where to go.- Have to agree with Ordca3. You have to love the make up of most of this team. And the grit that the newcomers are bringing to the established skill players-- Simmonds, read, couturier, Voracek, Schenn coming around, Zac and Sestito stepping up into their roles...... Two deficiencies on this team right now: Goaltending obviously, but what the heck are they supposed to do about that now? Hyst gotta hope Bob or Bryz the Sieve turns it around and steps up. But also need another true #1-4 D to get Matt Carle out of the rotation. So many giveaways, no physicality, no fear around the net...... maybe Weber is not in the cards (too bad) but even a physical #3-4 D like Luke Schenn might look god right now..... Though the power play could sure use a scary point shot like Weber...... Maybe Meszaros should take Kimmo's role on the pp? At leat hit the damn net on the point shots already Kimmo! And don't be so afraid to shoot!
— beachlawyr
