van Riemsdyk Goal Brings Flyers Back From Dead

Trailing Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils 2-0 late in the second period, the Philadelphia Flyers appeared as if they were prepared to go quietly into the night like they have so often in the last week.  As they had done in previous games, the Flyers were outshooting their opponents but had nothing to show for it.  But something strange happened with less than a minute and a half left.  

Rookie James van Riemsdyk was in full flight through center ice when he took a pass from Claude Giroux, split two Devils at the blueline, used NJ defenseman Andy Greene as a screen, and whipped a wrister past Brodeur.  At the 18:24 mark of the second period, Philadelphia was on the board. 

Before public address announcer Lou Nolan could even finish announcing JVR’s goal, Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell were in on a two-on-one break.  With just Mike Mottau back Hartnell passed to Carter, and Carter finished to tie the game at 2-2 with just 24 seconds left in the frame. 

The score remained that way until 12:02 of the third.  With Zach Parise off for high-sticking Kimmo Timonen, the Philadelphia power play went to work.  Timonen had the puck at the left point and carried it down the left wing and behind the net.  As he went around to the other side of the net, Timonen slid a perfect pass to Mike Richards, who jammed the puck past Brodeur for his 23rd goal of the season. 

Philadelphia killed off a late Timonen penalty in the games final minutes, and the Flyers had come from two goals down to win a game for the first time the entire season.

And if not for a timely goal from van Riemsdyk, his first in eight games, the Flyers looked to be ready to be taken off of life support and headed for a third straight loss. 

Special Teams the Key

When you give a team like New Jersey seven power play opportunities, it could come back to haunt you.  With players like Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias, there is enough firepower to make you pay for giving them that many chances.  And sure enough, the Devils scored on their first occasion with the man advantage.  Parise tried to slide a pass through the Flyer crease and it went off of defenseman Chris Pronger’s skate and into the Philly net. 

But Philadelphia would kill the last six NJ power plays, and Richards netted the game-winning goal on a Flyer man advantage.  The Flyers finished the night 1-4 on the PP.

Finally, Some Goals in Support of Leighton

Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton had to feel his team would eventually score some goals in games that he played.  Prior to last night, Philadelphia managed just one goal (scored by Daniel Carcillo in Minnesota) in support of Leighton in his last three starts.  The Flyer netminder was solid in making 28 saves while garnering third star status for the game. 

Scary Moment

Just a minute into the second period, NJ defenseman Anssi Salmela scored a shorthanded goal to give the Devils a 2-0 lead.  Almost simultaneously to scoring the goal, Salmela was drilled by Carter, sending the Devil defenseman spinning through the air and face first to the ice.  Salmela appeared to be unconscious upon impact as Carter’s shoulder came in contact with Salmela’s chin.  Salmela, bleeding from his face laid motionless on the ice for several minutes before being taken off on a stretcher.  Initial tests were taken and the Devils said he was up and around with just a cut on his nose.

Very much like Richards’ hit on Florida Panthers forward David Booth in October, the play was bang-bang.  The hit came just as the puck left the stick of the opposition player.  Carter, who has never had any previous disciplinary issues with the league, said he was relieved when he received word that Salmela was okay.  The play will be reviewed by NHL Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell.  A suspension is not expected.

Emery Misses Third Straight Game

Starting goaltender Ray Emery missed a third straight game with tightness in his hip, an injury that is not related to the abdominal surgery that kept him out for six weeks.  He may have a labrum tear, whihc was a recurring injury for Antero Niittymaki in his tenure with the Flyers before he left and signed as an unrestricted free agent with Tampa Bay in the offseason.

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