PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers entered their afternoon contest with the New York Rangers brimming with confidence. After a stretch of seasons where the Rangers had owned the Flyers, this season has been different with games going to extra time and shootouts with the Flyers having a decent record this year.
But Sunday the Flyers were unable to hold a late lead and surrendered a goal to Keith Yandle with 12 seconds left in regulation that tied the game at two all.
“We talked about after the All-Star break, we have to be better on the road, finding ways to win games,” Yandle said. “Especially in tough buildings like this. Early start, you’ve got to get feeling good about yourself and find ways to win, and we did that.”
Keith Yandle scored with 1`2 seconds left to send game to OT – Photo by Lewis Bleiman
It was Yandle’s fourth of the season.
“[Fast] made a great play to me,” Yandle said. “Put it right in my wheelhouse. Guys were right in front of the net, and luckily he didn’t see it and I was able to get a goal.”
Chris Kreider also scored for New York in regulation and Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves through the OT session and stopped two Flyers shooters.
“I think there’s games where you feel like the energy isn’t there or the momentum isn’t there, we’re not able to create chances,” Lundqvist said. “But in the third we played our best hockey. I felt like we had the determination to get things done. It was just tough; they got that goal that put us on our heels a little bit but we came back. For some reason I had a good feeling. Even though time was running out we had the pressure going and we had the momentum and determination we needed to win the game.”
Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored in the skills competition to ice the win for the Rangers.
Mats Zuccarello scored decisive goal in SO – Photo by Lewis Bleiman
Steve Mason took the loss on 26 saves.
Shayne Gostisbehere and Ryan White scored for the Flyers.
The Rangers’ Ryan McDonagh left the game midway through the first period after being punched in the head by the Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds; Simmonds was assessed a match penalty and game misconduct.
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