Phanatic Hockey Editor
Brayden Schenn posted two goals and one assist, as the Philadelphia Flyers scored three times in the third period, helping erase a two-goal deficit, to beat the Winnipeg Jets, 5-3, on Saturday.
Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds added a score and helper each for the Flyers, who claimed their third win in four tries thanks to three power-play tallies.
Ilya Bryzgalov made his 18th start in 20 games, and despite some early struggles with the rest of his teammates, picked up the win with 34 saves.
"We just said in the second intermission, we have to be able to thrive in situations like this. Whether we are up 3-2 or down 3-2, we have to find a way to win hockey games and tonight we did," Schenn said. "It was a huge two points to keep on climbing up in the standings, clawing our way back to a
playoff spot."
Philadelphia, which topped a team from Winnipeg in a home matinee for the first time in more than 25 years (1/30/88 4-3 W), was buoyed by the return of Scott Hartnell to the lineup after a 16-game absence dealing with a broken toe on his left foot. He ended up with five shots on goal in nearly 15 minutes of ice time and was a minus-one with two minor penalties, but felt a part of things once again.
"I feel a little rusty but I think the timing and stuff will come. I told G [Giroux] and Jake they have been playing so good I just wanted to get them the puck and head to the front of the net, that’s where I make a living," Hartnell said. "I had some chances, especially the first couple shifts there, Jake made a great pass and if I had been playing in all the other games, that goes in the net, but I was just happy to get through and game and no worries right now.”
Jakub Voracek added three assists as the hosts drew even on their current five-game homestand.
Evander Kane, Olli Jokinen and Alex Burmistrov provided the offense for the Jets, who have dropped four of their last six.
Ondrej Pavelec yielded four scores on 38 shots in defeat.
"I thought we played a pretty hard game if you take the special teams out of the scenario," said Jets head coach Claude Noel. "In the areas where the puck wasn't in a tough area to defend, we gave up pressure in areas where don't normally pressure and they came right back on our net off the rush. I'm disappointed to say the least."
Philly was on the power play when Schenn finished a 3-on-2 rush with a one-timer from the slot off a backhanded Jakub Voracek dish to tie the game, 3-3, with 6:18 played in the third period.
Simmonds put the hosts on top while on another advantage at 8:57, left alone at the left pipe to shovel home a perfect cross-crease pass from Schenn.
Winnipeg failed to draw even on the advantage with 3:49 to play, then Pavelec was called to the bench for an extra skater with 1:31 to go and Zac Rinaldo added an empty-net goal which barely beat the buzzer.
"I think it was a good game. It was fun to play. Good atmosphere," said Pavelec. "We were up 3-2. Just not enough to close the game. We played well in the third, but two stupid penalties cost you the game."
What could have cost the Flyers at the outset was another outbreak of sluggish play to kick off a matinee contest.
Kane opened the scoring on a redirection of a Nik Antropov pass at the right post with 4:48 played in the first period, He had a prime chance to double Winnipeg's lead from the same spot six minutes later, but whiffed on the shot.
The Jets were true to their moniker, playing with speed and an edge. They outshot the Flyers 12-1 over the first half of the opening period, until a television timeout provided a breather. From that point, the Orange and Black strafed their opponents to a 16-0 count in the final 9:47 of the period.
It finally paid off when Schenn's third-chance whack at a loose puck in the crease evened the score with 4:42 left in the first. Danny Briere set up the play by challenging Pavelec on the left side twice before the puck came loose.
Jokinen made it 2-1 for the Jets at 2:34 of the second during a 4-on-4 situation when he whirled in the right circle and beat Bryzgalov through the pads.
"You know, he caught me on the movement. I just stopped and in that time he took the shot," said Bryzgalov of his difficulty with tracking Jokinen's motion. "I was not set yet for the shot because I followed him and I didn't stop fast enough."
Winnipeg gained a two-goal edge with 8:47 left as Burmistrov managed to get his stick on a fluttering Grant Clitsome point drive which sailed home.
A Giroux blast from the bottom of the left circle during a 5-on-3 pulled Philly within a goal at 14:24, but the Jets survived the rest of the one-man edge.
Notes: The Flyers picked up their first win this season when trailing after two periods (1-7-0)...Schenn tied a season high with three points, first accomplished on Feb. 9 vs. Carolina (1G, 2A)...His last two-goal game happened on Mar. 29, 2012 at Toronto in a 7-1 Philly win... Voracek has 12 points (4G, 8A) in the last five games...Kane extended his point streak to six games...Jokinen recorded his first goal since Jan. 31, a span of 10 games...Philadelphia upped their record to 6-3-1 against the Southeast Division, and continue their homestand on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs...The original Winnipeg Jets won the last matinee game in Philadelphia between the teams, a 1-0 decision in overtime on November 18, 1989 at the Spectrum, won by Jets forward Doug Smail 91 seconds in.
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