GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: PHILADELPHIA (14-11) at MINNESOTA (15-11)

NHL: PHILADELPHIA (14-11) at MINNESOTA (15-11)

<h3>Richards, Flyers set to battle surging Wild</h3>

<div class="pre">Philadelphia (14-9-2) at Minnesota (15-9-2) 8:00 pm EST</div>

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - The Philadelphia Flyers areprobably the most improved team in the NHL this season, but theyhave hit a rough patch.


Mike Richards will try to lead the Flyers to their fourthconsecutive road victory when they visit the Minnesota Wild onWednesday.


After finishing last season with an NHL-worst 56 points,Philadelphia is already just eight wins shy of matching itsseason total for the 2006-07 campaign.


One of the major reasons for the Flyers' turn around has beenthe play of Richards, who leads the team with 14 goals and 31points.


Despite the success on the road, Philadelphia lost five of itsprevious eight contests. After Randy Jones scored 41 secondsinto Saturday's contest, the Flyers were held off the scoresheetfor the remainder of game in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.

The Wild are looking to close out their four-game home standwith their fifth straight win. After this contest, they willplay five consecutive road games and will not be back inMinnesota until December 18.


Niklas Backstrom has been spectacular in goal over the winningstreak, posting a 1.75 goals-against average. He is 12-4-1 witha 2.22 GAA and .916 save percentage with two shutouts thisseason.


Marian Gaborik leads the Wild with 10 goals and 21 points,despite missing five games with a strained groin.

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL AT MINNESOTA
STARTING GOALIES: PHI - ANTERO NIITTYMAKI
MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM

OFFICIALS: REF - BRAD MEIER, STEVE KOZARI
LIN - MIKE CVIK, RYAN GALLOWAY</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">PHILADELPHIA VS MINNESOTA - SCRATCHES

PHILADELPHIA MINNESOTA

B EAGER HEALTHY M PARRISH HIP INJURY
B COBURN SUSPENDED NHL K FOSTER CHEEK
L KUKKONEN HEALTHY P BOUCHARD BACK INJURY</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 0
MINNESOTA 0 19:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 0
MINNESOTA 0 18:02 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 1
MINNESOTA 0
1ST PRD: PHI - SCOTTIE UPSHALL 6 (JEFF CARTER, DENIS TOLPEKO) 4:44</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 1
MINNESOTA 0 13:19 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 0
1ST PRD: PHI - JEFF CARTER 9 (DENIS TOLPEKO, SCOTTIE UPSHALL) 9:28</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHILADELPHIA 2 2
MINNESOTA 0 0 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: PHI - SCOTTIE UPSHALL 6 (JEFF CARTER, DENIS TOLPEKO) 4:44
PHI - JEFF CARTER 9 (DENIS TOLPEKO, SCOTTIE UPSHALL) 9:28

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHI 8 8
MIN 10 10

GOALIES: PHI - ANTERO NIITTYMAKI
MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------
Philadelphia 2 --2
Minnesota 0 --0
------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Philadelphia, Scottie Upshall 6 (Jeff
Carter, Denis Tolpeko), 4:44. 2, Philadelphia, Jeff Carter 9 (Denis
Tolpeko, Scottie Upshall), 9:28. Penalties: D Briere, Phi (roughing),
0:35; M Richards, Phi (slashing), 1:26; R Fitzpatrick, Phi (slashing),
5:18.

Shots on goal:
-----------------------------
Philadelphia 8 --8
Minnesota 10 --10
-----------------------------

Goalies : Philadelphia, Antero Niittymaki (10 shots, 10 saves).
Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (8 shots, 6 saves). Referees: Brad Meier,
Steve Kozari. Linesmen: Mike Cvik, Ryan Galloway.</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 0 19:55 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 0 19:11 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 1
2ND PRD: MIN - (PP) PAVOL DEMITRA 5 (BRIAN ROLSTON, MARIAN GABORIK)
0:55</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 1 13:09 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 1 9:30 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 1 6:33 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHILADELPHIA 2 0 2
MINNESOTA 0 1 1 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: PHI - SCOTTIE UPSHALL 6 (JEFF CARTER, DENIS TOLPEKO) 4:44
PHI - JEFF CARTER 9 (DENIS TOLPEKO, SCOTTIE UPSHALL) 9:28
2ND PRD: MIN - (PP) PAVOL DEMITRA 5 (BRIAN ROLSTON, MARIAN GABORIK)
0:55

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHI 8 14 22
MIN 10 10 20

GOALIES: PHI - ANTERO NIITTYMAKI
MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Philadelphia 2 0 --2
Minnesota 0 1 --1
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Philadelphia, Scottie Upshall 6 (Jeff
Carter, Denis Tolpeko), 4:44. 2, Philadelphia, Jeff Carter 9 (Denis
Tolpeko, Scottie Upshall), 9:28. Penalties: D Briere, Phi (roughing),
0:35; M Richards, Phi (slashing), 1:26; R Fitzpatrick, Phi (slashing),
5:18.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Minnesota, Pavol Demitra 5 (power play)
(Brian Rolston, Marian Gaborik), 0:55. Penalties: S Hartnell, Phi
(interference), 0:24; E Belanger, Min (tripping), 6:36; S Hartnell,
Phi (interference), 9:53; T Fedoruk, Min (boarding), 12:45.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Philadelphia 8 14 --22
Minnesota 10 10 --20
----------------------------------

Goalies : Philadelphia, Antero Niittymaki (20 shots, 19 saves).
Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (22 shots, 20 saves). Referees: Brad
Meier, Steve Kozari. Linesmen: Mike Cvik, Ryan Galloway.</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 1 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 2
MINNESOTA 1 16:03 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>