Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Another one goal game for the Flyers, but another win

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

Simon Gagne's power-play goal late in the third period lifted Philadelphia over the New York Islanders, 4-3, at the Wachovia Center.

Jeff Carter and Arron Asham also lit the lamp for the Flyers, who have won three of four. Darroll Powe registered his first NHL tally, and Mike Richards picked up two assists.

Martin Biron stopped 24 shots to record his ninth straight win over the Islanders. His last setback against the club came in a 4-3 home loss on March 24, 2007.

Andy Hilbert, Doug Weight and Blake Comeau scored for the Islanders, who wasted a two-goal lead and suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

Yann Danis, getting the nod in net after Joey MacDonald started the previous 17 games, took the loss after allowing all four goals on 25 shots.

Gagne put the Flyers on top, 4-3, with 8:52 left in regulation, taking a backhand pass from Richards and one-timing the puck from the left circle into the net just inside the right post. The goal came just 11 seconds after Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt went off for interference.

Biron and the Flyers' defense clamped down from there, only allowing a handful of New York chances at even strength and with the extra skater for New York in the final minute.

The Islanders struck first, on a power play at 9:23, as Hilbert redirected Chris Campoli's pass from the left boards past Biron.

Weight followed 1:11 later by batting in a loose puck, but Asham scored his second of the season a little more than 90 seconds after for Philadelphia's opening tally of the contest.

Powe followed the rebound of a Richards shot for his first career tally 8:09 into the second period and a 2-2 tie, and Carter stashed home a loose puck for a one-goal lead with 3:58 left in the second. It was his 20th goal of the campaign, tying him with Buffalo's Thomas Vanek for the league lead.

Comeau's wrister changed direction off the stick of Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen and dipped through Biron 2:17 into the third.

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