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

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 1 15:59 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

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

PHILADELPHIA MINNESOTA

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

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 1 12:00 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 1 5:40 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 1 2:37 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

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

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
3RD PRD: PHI - BRAYDON COBURN 1 (RANDY JONES) 4:01

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: PHI - 0 OF 2, MIN - 1 OF 8.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHI 8 14 3 25
MIN 10 10 9 29

GOALIES: PHI - ANTERO NIITTYMAKI
MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM

OFFICIALS: REF - BRAD MEIER, STEVE KOZARI
LIN - MIKE CVIK, RYAN GALLOWAY

ATT: 18,568</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Philadelphia 2 0 1 --3
Minnesota 0 1 0 --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.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Philadelphia, Braydon Coburn 1 (Randy
Jones), 4:01. Penalties: M Richards, Phi (high sticking), 0:33; D
Briere, Phi (tripping), 2:47; D Moore, Min (unsportsmanlike cond),
2:47; S Upshall, Phi (slashing), 6:29; K Timonen, Phi (hooking), 7:16.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Philadelphia 8 14 3 --25
Minnesota 10 10 9 --29
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Philadelphia - 0 of 2, Minnesota - 1 of 8.
Goalies : Philadelphia, Antero Niittymaki (29 shots, 28 saves; record:
3-2-0). Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (25 shots, 22 saves; record:
13-4-1). A: 18,568. Referees: Brad Meier, Steve Kozari. Linesmen:
Mike Cvik, Ryan Galloway.</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 1</div>

 

By Anthony Maggio
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Defenseman Braydon Coburn wasgetting ready for a shift change. Instead, his first goal ofthe season iced a victory for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Coburn's shot from behind the blue line whizzed past anunsuspecting Niklas Backstrom four minutes into the thirdperiod, and the Flyers ended the Minnesota Wild's four-gamewinning streak with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night.

Scottie Upshall and Jeff Carter each had a goal and an assist,Denis Tolpeko set up a pair of tallies and Antero Niittymakimade 29 saves for Philadelphia, which won for the fourthstraight time on the road.


Pavol Demitra scored the lone goal for Minnesota, which saw itsthree-game home winning streak come to an end.


The Wild thought it got on the board first in this one but had apower-play goal by Aaron Voros waved off less than threeminutes into the game. The Flyers jumped in front shortlythereafter thanks to the pad of Backstrom.


Upshall took a pass from Carter in front of the net and put ashot shot just off the goalpost to Backstrom's glove side. Thepuck slowly slid back into the crease and behind Backstrom'sleft leg, with both teams scrambling to find it.


Backstrom was bumped in the process, jarring the puck loose andforcing it back into the net at 4:44, with Upshall gettingcredit for the goal.


The same trio struck again at 9:28 of the opening session to putthe Flyers up, 2-0.


Tolpeko took a pass from Upshall along the boards to Backstrom'sleft and skated toward the blue line before firing a pass infront to Carter, who was alone on the doorstep. Backstromlunged at the puck, but Carter pulled it back and backhanded itinto an open net.


The Wild began the second period with much more enthusiasm, andafter Scott Hartnell's penalty 24 seconds into the session, theyscored a power-play goal to halve the deficit.


Brian Rolston took a slap shot from the blue line that was justto Niittymaki's glove side. But Demitra was right there waitingand deflected it above the netminder's left leg at the55-second mark, drawing Minnesota within 2-1.


But Coburn restored Philadelphia's two-goal advantage at 4:01 ofthe third period, when he fired a shot from behind the blueline that snuck over Backstrom's left shoulder and into the net.

Minnesota still had its chances later in the third, including a5-on-3 advantage for more than a minute, but Niittymaki was upto the task, turning aside all nine shots he faced in thesession.


Backstrom finished with 22 saves for Minnesota.

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

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

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
3RD PRD: PHI - BRAYDON COBURN 1 (RANDY JONES) 4:01

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: PHI - 0 OF 2, MIN - 1 OF 8.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHI 9 13 3 25
MIN 10 10 9 29

GOALIES: PHI - ANTERO NIITTYMAKI
MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM

OFFICIALS: REF - BRAD MEIER, STEVE KOZARI
LIN - MIKE CVIK, RYAN GALLOWAY

ATT: 18,568</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Philadelphia 2 0 1 --3
Minnesota 0 1 0 --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.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Philadelphia, Braydon Coburn 1 (Randy
Jones), 4:01. Penalties: M Richards, Phi (high sticking), 0:33; D
Briere, Phi (tripping), 2:47; D Moore, Min (diving), 2:47; S Upshall,
Phi (slashing), 6:29; K Timonen, Phi (hooking), 7:16.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Philadelphia 9 13 3 --25
Minnesota 10 10 9 --29
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Philadelphia - 0 of 2, Minnesota - 1 of 8.
Goalies : Philadelphia, Antero Niittymaki (29 shots, 28 saves; record:
3-2-0). Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (25 shots, 22 saves; record:
13-4-1). A: 18,568. Referees: Brad Meier, Steve Kozari. Linesmen:
Mike Cvik, Ryan Galloway.</div>

 

NHL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
PHILADELPHIA 2 0 1 --3
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 --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.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Philadelphia, Braydon Coburn 1 (Randy
Jones), 4:01. Penalties: M Richards, Phi (high sticking), 0:33; D
Briere, Phi (tripping), 2:47; D Moore, Min (diving), 2:47; S Upshall,
Phi (slashing), 6:29; K Timonen, Phi (hooking), 7:16.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
PHILADELPHIA 9 13 3 --25
MINNESOTA 10 10 9 --29
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: PHI - 0 of 2, MIN - 1 of 8. Goalies :
Philadelphia, Antero Niittymaki (29 shots, 28 saves; record: 3-2-0).
Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (25 shots, 22 saves; record: 13-4-1). A:
18,568. Referees: Brad Meier, Steve Kozari. Linesmen: Mike Cvik, Ryan
Galloway.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

PHILADELPHIA MINNESOTA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
J Dowd 0 0 even 0 M Gaborik 0 1 -1 3
J Lupul 0 0 +1 1 B Rolston 0 1 -1 5
J Carter 1 1 +3 3 D Moore 0 0 -1 3
M Richards 0 0 even 2 S Veilleux 0 0 -1 1
S Hartnell 0 0 even 4 E Belanger 0 0 even 0
D Hatcher 0 0 even 0 K Carney 0 0 even 1
R Umberger 0 0 even 2 P Demitra 1 0 -2 4
J Smith 0 0 even 0 M Skoula 0 0 -3 1
M Knuble 0 0 even 2 A Voros 0 0 even 2
S Kapanen 0 0 even 2 K Johnsson 0 0 even 1
S Downie 0 0 even 0 N Schultz 0 0 even 0
K Timonen 0 0 +1 1 S Hill 0 0 -3 3
D Briere 0 0 even 2 J Sheppard 0 0 even 0
B Coburn 0 0 +2 1 B Burns 0 0 even 3
D Tolpeko 0 2 +2 2 M Foy 0 0 even 0
R Jones 0 0 +2 0 T Fedoruk 0 0 even 0
R Fitzpatrick 0 0 +1 1 B Radivojevic 0 0 -1 2
S Upshall 1 1 +2 2 P Bouchard 0 0 -1 0
B Eager HEALTHY M Parrish HIP INJURY
L Kukkonen HEALTHY K Foster CHEEK</div>

 

By Anthony Maggio
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Defenseman Braydon Coburn wasgetting ready for a shift change. Instead, his first goal ofthe season iced a victory for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Coburn's shot from behind the blue line whizzed past anunsuspecting Niklas Backstrom four minutes into the thirdperiod, and the Flyers ended the Minnesota Wild's four-gamewinning streak with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night.

Scottie Upshall and Jeff Carter each had a goal and an assist,Denis Tolpeko set up a pair of tallies and Antero Niittymakimade 29 saves for Philadelphia, which won for the fourthstraight time on the road.


"We just came out on the road and played a really simple gameand executed really well," Flyers captain Jason Smith said ofhis club, which has sparkled on the road but gone 0-3-2 in itslast five at home. "We haven't been making the errors we'vebeen making at home. We're just playing simple, getting thepuck out of our zone and getting it deep in the offensive zone."

Pavol Demitra scored the lone goal for Minnesota, which saw thewind taken out of its sails on Coburn's goal and its three-gamehome winning streak come to an end.


"Everyone felt at that time we needed one shot, and we hadplenty of time to get that shot and tie the game," Wild coachJacques Lemaire said. "It was not a good goal (to give up)."

"I was coming down and I was the only guy. They had two guysback, so I was just trying to get a shot on net," Coburn said."It was lucky to go in. I think (Backstrom) just missed it.Really, I was just shooting on net."


The Wild thought they got on the board first in this one but hada power-play goal by Aaron Voros waved off less than threeminutes into the game. The Flyers jumped in front shortlythereafter thanks to the pad of Backstrom.


Upshall took a pass from Carter in front of the net and put ashot shot just off the goalpost to Backstrom's glove side. Thepuck slowly slid back into the crease and behind Backstrom'sleft leg, with both teams scrambling to find it.


Backstrom was bumped in the process, jarring the puck loose andforcing it back into the net at 4:44, with Upshall gettingcredit for the goal.


The same trio struck again at 9:28 of the opening session to putthe Flyers up, 2-0.


Tolpeko took a pass from Upshall along the boards to Backstrom'sleft and skated toward the blue line before firing a pass infront to Carter, who was alone on the doorstep. Backstromlunged at the puck, but Carter pulled it back and backhanded itinto an open net.


"They were great," Flyers coach John Stevens said of Carter'sline. "I really thought that whole line was good. Upshall hadgood jump, Tolpeko played the game without fear that we love tosee him play with."


The Wild began the second period with much more enthusiasm, andafter Scott Hartnell's penalty 24 seconds into the session, theyscored a power-play goal to halve the deficit.


Brian Rolston took a slap shot from the blue line that was justto Niittymaki's glove side. But Demitra was right there waitingand deflected it above the netminder's left leg at the55-second mark, drawing Minnesota within 2-1.


But Coburn restored Philadelphia's two-goal advantage at 4:01 ofthe third period, when he fired a shot from behind the blueline that snuck over Backstrom's left shoulder and into the net.

"I'm sure that's one the goalie would like to have back,"Stevens said. "You never know if it knuckled or deflected, itjust found the top of the net. It's certainly one we'll take,but we felt fortunate it went in."


"Obviously I was happy it went in, but I felt bad for my fellowFinn there," Niittymaki said, referring to Backstrom.

Minnesota still had its chances later in the third, including a5-on-3 advantage for more than a minute, but Niittymaki was upto the task, turning aside all nine shots he faced in thesession.


"It was nice to know (I was starting) a couple days before. Ihad a chance to practice and mentally get ready," Niittymakisaid. "It worked out pretty well."


Backstrom finished with 22 saves for Minnesota.