Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Flyers come up short in Florida

Michael Frolik recorded three points on a goal and two assists, and David Booth netted the game-winning goal as Florida snuck past Philadelphia, 3-2, at BankAtlantic Center.

Bryan McCabe tallied the other goal for the Panthers, who picked up their first home win since January 10 and stopped a two-game losing streak.

Tomas Vokoun was strong, making 33 saves for the win.

Simon Gagne and Claude Giroux tallied for the Flyers, who had beaten Florida in Sunrise, 3-2, in a shootout on January 16.

Martin Biron stopped 24 shots, but lost for the third time in as many starts.

Panthers defenseman Karlis Skrastins committed a hooking infraction with just under two minutes remaining in regulation but play was not halted until 1:23 remained. On the delayed call, the Flyers pulled Biron, kept possession in the Panthers' zone, then after the whistle, skated 6-on-4 for the rest of the contest.

However, the visitors didn't have more than a couple scoring chances and one good shot on the advantage and the home team escaped with the victory.

The Flyers got the game's first goal at 10:44, as Mike Knuble backhanded a pass from the left wing which caromed off Gagne's skate at the side of the net and slid in.

McCabe evened the score with 5:26 to play in the first, jumping up to create a 3-on-2 and sticking a wrister through at the near post.

Frolik gave the Panthers their first lead of the game 7:43 into the second when his wraparound from the right side deflected off Philly backliner Matt Carle's stick and slid through Biron's pads.

Booth added a power-play marker on a deflection from Keith Ballard's point shot with 8:10 left in the period for a 3-1 Florida lead.

Giroux netted his first career tally off a feed from Darroll Powe only 1:51 into the third period to cut the Flyers' deficit to one, then Philadelphia had a potential game-tying goal wiped out a short time later.

A little more than 6 1/2 minutes in, defenseman Randy Jones dished to Mike Richards in the right circle for what looked like an easy score, but a goaltender interference call on Kimmo Timonen kept it a one-goal game and put Florida on a power play.

The Panthers failed to convert and dodged a bullet at the end of regulation.


Game Notes

Booth reached the 20-goal mark for the second straight year and is just two scores away from his career-best, set last season...Gagne reached the 20-goal plateau for the seventh time in his career and for the first time since a 41- goal year in 2006-07...Knuble's assist was his 100th as a Flyer...Biron has not won since January 10, a 4-1 decision over Toronto...Florida has won four of the last six games against Philly at home...The Panthers host Montreal on Thursday, and the Flyers play in Tampa on Friday.

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