Sunday, November 23, 2008

Carter, Richards save the day as Flyers top Coyotes in OT

Mike Richards scored the game-winning goal 1:35 into overtime as Philadelphia rallied to top Phoenix, 4-3, at the Wachovia Center.

Richards and Jeff Carter broke out 2-on-1 from center ice with Richards handling the puck. He faked a shot as he slid from the left to right wing and hit the net to the far side as Carter provided a screen.

Carter tied the game late in regulation and added an assist on the deciding score. Scott Hartnell and Mike Knuble also tallied for the Flyers, who have won four in a row.

"It's an important two points for us to end this week," noted Flyers head coach John Stevens.

Martin Biron won his second start in as many days by stopping 25 shots.

"We battled hard to win," Biron said. "When you're down after two, it's hard to win a game in this league."

Daniel Carcillo, Martin Hanzal and Todd Fedoruk scored for the Coyotes, who have dropped five straight games.

Mikael Tellqvist took the loss despite making 30 saves.

After wasting an early power-play chance, the Flyers took a 1-0 lead 6:18 into the contest as Hartnell's shot from the left side deflected off a Phoenix defenseman and trickled over the goal line.

The Coyotes evened the game on the power play with 1:10 left in the first, as Biron's clearing attempt from the behind the net went right to Carcillo for an easy goal.

Phoenix went up 2-1 with 50.9 seconds left in the second period. After several Coyotes shifts inside the Flyers' zone which saw multiple shots blocked, Hanzal managed to shoot one past Biron while being dragged down by Hartnell.

Tellqvist slid on his back and flashed the glove to deny Matt Carle on a Flyers man advantage early in the third, but seconds later, Kimmo Timonen's point shot was deflected out of midair by Knuble for the tying goal at 5:08.

Fedoruk then gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead with 5:14 left in regulation when his bouncing shot from the slot knuckled by Biron.

Biron was called to the bench with roughly 1:10 remaining, but before he reached the bench for the extra skater, Carter redirected a Richards feed for a 3-3 deadlock with 1:07 to play.

Richards was sent off for an interference penalty with 50 seconds left in the third but Phoenix had little offensive flow on the advantage.

"They're a good hockey club. It's a tough building to play in," said Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky. "I was disappointed in the power play in overtime than them scoring late in the third. That was the most frustrating part tonight."

Game Notes

Carter has 14 goals on the season, one fewer than league-leader Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres. He also has five goals in his last five games...It was Knuble's second goal in his last eight contests...The Flyers improved to 24-9-0 all time at home against the Jets/Coyotes franchise and won at home over Phoenix for the first time since December, 2003...Fedoruk picked up his first goal since October 25 and tallied in his first game back in Philadelphia after being dealt away by the Flyers in 2007.

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