Canucks hand Flyers their 7th straight road loss

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Flyers' road woes continued Tuesday night in Vancouver, and once again they failed to give goalie Steve Mason much offensive support.

Right winger Alex Burrows scored two third-period goals 17 seconds apart, snapping a 1-1 tie and sparking the Canucks to a hard-earned 4-1 win at Rogers Arena.

It was the Flyers' seventh straight road loss (0-5-2); they slipped to 9-19-9 on the road, where they haven't won since a 2-1 victory in Buffalo on Feb. 15.

Mason (31 saves) played well but fell to 1-11-6 on the road. The Flyers have scored two or fewer goals in 16 of the goalie's 18 road games.

"We obviously know our record isn't good enough on the road to make the playoffs," winger Jake Voracek said. "I think that's why we're out of it."

The Canucks closed the scoring with a late empty-net goal.

Burrows beat Mason from the right circle — ending a 10-game goal-scoring drought — with 13 minutes, 16 seconds remaining, putting the Canucks ahead, 2-1. Seventeen seconds later, he scored on a rebound, his 14th goal of the season.

"I needed to make the save there," said Mason of Burrows' first goal, which appeared to deflect off a Flyers defenseman and go through the goalie's legs.

"We're playing well. Two plays and it's 3-1," coach Craig Berube said. "I think the second goal, I'm sure Mase would like back, but we find a way to lose the game rather than win it."

"We had good looks that we didn't bury. That's the story of our season," Voracek said.

Burrows had missed the previous game (and seven of the last 11) with a groin injury.

With the loss, the Flyers' "tragic" number dropped to 11 points. Any combination of Boston points — and points the Flyers fail to get — that totals 11 will eliminate Philadelphia from the playoff picture.

The Flyers are 10 points behind Boston and have 10 games left — two fewer than the Bruins.

Left winger Michael Raffl, positioned in front, redirected Claude Giroux's left-side cross past goalie Eddie Lack to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead with 9:18 left in the second period. It was Raffl's 17th goal, and it gave him 16 at even strength, tops on the team.

Raffl had spent the previous five games on a lower line, but he was back on the top line Tuesday with Giroux and Voracek.

About a minute before Raffl's goal, Voracek bloodied Dan Hamhuis' face in a fight.

Vancouver knotted the score with 5:32 left in the second, taking advantage of a Vinny Lecavalier turnover and getting the equalizer from Alexander Edler after a scramble in front of Mason.

Edler scored on a backhander, depositing his first goal in the last 20 games.

Burrows did the rest of the damage. His two goals were the quickest against the Flyers by the same player since Jan. 21, 1993, when Boston's Vladimir Ruzicka scored twice in 14 seconds in a 5-4 Flyers loss at the Spectrum.

The Flyers were outshot, 9-8, but had better scoring chances than the Canucks in a scoreless first period. The Flyers won 67 percent of the faceoffs, outhit the Canucks, 20-11, and nearly took the lead, but defenseman Carolo Colaiacovo's shot, fired from above the left circle, hit the right post with 13:21 left in the opening period.

Colaiacovo had another good chance a little over two minutes later, but Lack denied his attempt to finish a crisp three-on-two break.

In the last 4:21 of the first period, Lack, who has played well while subbing for the injured Ryan Miller, also made key stops on Sean Couturier in front and on Voracek from the slot.

The Flyers entered the night with a 32-11-12 career record in Vancouver, their highest points percentage (.691) in any NHL city.

Saluting Quinn

The late Pat Quinn — who coached both teams — was honored in an emotional pregame ceremony that was attended by his family.

In honor of the former coach, Pat Quinn Way was unveiled. The one-block street runs next to Rogers Arena. The ceremony was held on St. Patrick's Day for the man affectionately known as the Big Irishman.

Bobby Clarke was among the many players who played for Quinn who was introduced to the roaring crowd. Quinn coached the Flyers during their epic 35-game unbeaten streak in 1979-80. He died Nov. 23 at age 71.

Breakaways

Nick Cousins made his NHL debut and centered Zac Rinaldo and Ryan White. In 10:04, Cousins had one shot and won five of six faceoffs. Just before Vancouver tied the game, Cousins nearly made it 2-0, but Lack made a good save. "I thought he was very good," Berube said of Cousins. "Fast game out there tonight, and he looked like he had the pace for it. Competitive guy, strong on the puck. He played a real solid game."…..Rinaldo had eight hits and White had seven. The Flyers outhit the Canucks, 42-22, and won 58 percent of the faceoffs.…Left winger Brayden Schenn was dropped to the second line to replace Matt Read, whose wife, Erin, delivered their first child. (No word on if it's a boy or girl). … Giroux on the NHL possibly adopting a three-on-three in overtimes next season. "If you get a power play, is it three on two?" The NHL would probably make it a four-on-three power play.

@BroadStBull