Neuvirth, Flyers shut out Jets
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Michal Neuvirth is making a strong bid to be the Flyers' No. 1 goaltender. Neuvirth made 28 saves and collected his third shutout - tops in the NHL - as the Flyers blanked Winnipeg, 3-0, at the MTS Centre on Saturday night. He became the first goalie in franchise history with three shutouts in his first seven starts of a season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Michal Neuvirth is making a strong bid to be the Flyers' No. 1 goaltender.
Neuvirth made 28 saves and collected his third shutout - tops in the NHL - as the Flyers blanked Winnipeg, 3-0, at the MTS Centre on Saturday night. He became the first goalie in franchise history with three shutouts in his first seven starts of a season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"We played a real solid game, and it started with the goaltender," said winger Wayne Simmonds, who scored the second goal, helping the Flyers end a six-game losing streak. ". . . He's been lights-out for us, and it was only right tonight that we rewarded him with a win."
The Flyers avoided what would have been their worst five-game road trip in 33 years.
Brayden Schenn and Simmonds delivered power-play goals as the Flyers finished 1-3-1 on the trip.
Neuvirth made his third straight start - Steve Mason has recovered from an illness - and seventh in the team's 14 games. His outstanding play may make it difficult for rookie coach Dave Hakstol to go back to Mason when the Flyers (5-6-3) return home and face Colorado on Tuesday.
Three of the Flyers' five wins this year are on Neuvirth shutouts. He lowered his goals-against average to 1.81 and raised his save percentage to an NHL-best .945.
The Flyers, who got an empty-net goal from Matt Read, allowed a season-low 28 shots.
"That's the way we wanted to end this road trip; it's been a long 10 days," said Neuvirth, 27, who had only seven career shutouts before this season. "I thought we were getting better each game, and I thought it was a great team effort tonight. The guys did a good job the whole 60 minutes, and that's the way we've got to play on the road in this league."
Schenn's first-period goal ended the team's seven-game, 0-for-16 power-play funk. Simmonds scored with 10 minutes, 16 seconds left in the third period for another power-play goal, knocking in a rebound while goalie Ondrej Pavelec was without his stick because it was lodged in the net.
The Flyers, who were 5 for 5 on the penalty kill, avoided their first winless five-game road trip since Jan. 23-31, 1982 (0-3-2).
Schenn gave the Flyers the early cushion. Taking a feed from Claude Giroux (two assists), Schenn fired a left-circle one-timer past Pavelec to put the Flyers ahead, 1-0, with 14:06 left in the first.
"He put it right on the tape like he normally does, and I was able to get most of it," Schenn said.
It marked the first time the Flyers had scored first during the five-game trip.
"It was huge. The league is too tough when you're always chasing the game," Schenn said. "It's important for us to get a goal early and get some confidence and momentum on our side."
Whenever the Jets threatened, Neuvirth had the answer. Again.
Breakaways. Michael Del Zotto injured his right leg in the second period and had to be helped off the ice, but he returned about 61/2 minutes later. . . . R.J. Umberger went to the locker room for repairs after a second-period fight with Andrew Ladd. He returned later in the period.
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