Flyers top Coyotes in thriller

Earlier in the day, two of Ilya Bryzgalov's former Phoenix teammates - defensemen Derek Morris and Adrian Aucoin - criticized him mercilessly in radio interviews, saying the goalie created animosity in the locker room.

In the other locker room Thursday night, the Flyers praised Bryzgalov for keying the team's latest victory, a last-minute 2-1 triumph over the Coyotes at the Wells Fargo Center.

Matt Read scored on a rebound with 18.6 seconds left to snap a 1-1 tie and enable the Flyers to run their points streak to eight games (6-0-2).

"It took a lucky bounce right to me, and I had an open net," said Read after goalie Mike Smith couldn't control Max Talbot's shot, and the rookie winger pounced on the rebound for his sixth goal.

But on a night when one of the Flyers' top scorers, Jaromir Jagr, was injured, the Flyers relied on Bryzgalov to stand tall against his ex-teammates.

And, as in his previous five games, Bryzgalov did just that.

"He seems to be pretty steadfast from day to day," coach Peter Laviolette said. "He gave us an opportunity to win. We had to fight. It took 59-plus minutes for us to get the lead and finish the game, but he was solid, like he's been for the last two weeks for us."

Jagr, who had 13 points (six goals, seven assist) in his previous 10 games, suffered what is believed to be a groin injury early in the game. He played three shifts and did not return, but general manager Paul Holmgren said the injury was not serious. Jagr will not make the trip to Winnipeg for Saturday's game against the Jets, but may be able to play Monday against Carolina, Holmgren said.

As for Bryzgalov, he made 30 saves and is 5-0-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average in his last six starts.

"He bailed us out when we made mistakes," Flyers captain Chris Pronger said.

"It was not an easy team to beat, and it takes a full 60 minutes to win the game," Bryzgalov said.

Told about his former teammates' criticism - Morris said Bryzgalov was "known for letting in bad goals" and that he was "glad he's gone" - Bryzgalov took the high road.

"I always felt good about those guys," said Bryzgalov, 31, who played most of the previous four seasons in Phoenix. "Every person in their life has opinions about everyone. You can't pay attention if they think like that. I can't change his mind."

The Flyers, who moved into a tie for first with Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division, took a 1-0 lead when James van Riemsdyk, after taking a feed from Claude Giroux, scored from deep inside the right circle with 7 minutes, 23 seconds left in the second period. Skating down the right side on a two-on-one, van Riemsdyk used Kimmo Timonen as a decoy and beat Smith (40 saves) with a high shot to the short side.

Bryzgalov and Smith were brilliant in the first two periods, combining to stop 50 of 51 shots. Bryzgalov stopped all 22.

Phoenix tied the score 3:38 into the third period as Mikkel Boedker scored from a bad angle out front, knocking a loose puck through Bryzgalov's legs after the goalie appeared to have it covered.

The Coyotes couldn't afford to pay Bryzgalov, so they traded him to the Flyers and later signed the 29-year-old Smith, who has been primarily a backup in his career.

Smith has not played like a journeyman. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound goalie entered Thursday with an 8-2-3 record, a 2.19 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.

Smith signed a two-year deal for a total of $4 million. Bryzgalov signed a nine-year pact for $51 million.

Jagr's injury caused the Flyers to scramble their lines. Sean Couturier and van Riemsdyk were among the players who replaced Jagr on a line with Giroux and Scott Hartnell.

The Flyers killed all four Phoenix power plays in regulation, making them 34 for their last 35.