Right winger Jordin Tootoo pulled the New Jersey Devils into a 2-2 tie midway through the third period, mere seconds after a smothering penalty kill by the Flyers temporarily preserved their lead. Jakub Voracek and Ryan White also scored in the third period and Michal Neuvirth made 21 saves.
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“Both sides, specialty teams answered the bell when they needed to and a lot of guys, everybody in the lineup, competed hard”. New Jersey and Pittsburgh are five and four points ahead of the Flyers, respectively, for those postseason positions, but while the Penguins have played one fewer game than the Flyers, the Devils have played twice more than Philadelphia.
That tying goal led to Brayden Schenn’s 17th goal of the season, on the power play and the second point on a night in which he had three.
The Devils were only able to convert on one of the power plays and they lost an Adam Henrique goal when Lee Stempniak was called for incidental contact with Neuvirth in the crease.
The Devils had five power-play goals in their previous three games against the Flyers, but the visitors’ much-maligned penalty kill did an admirable job Tuesday.
With four intra-division losses in February shadowing them and leaving them staring at rapidly dwindling playoff hopes, they had talked earlier in the day of the importance of this four-point road game.
But Shayne Gostisbehere, who gains some speculative notice about a rookie of the year candidacy with each passing game, extended his league points streak record to 13 games with a goal that evened the game.
Gostisbehere has 11 goals and 21 assists on the season. A few minutes later, Schenn’s power-play goal gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead. “It probably wasn’t our smartest game we’ve played as far as sticking with it and finding a way”. Simmonds took a pass from Giroux and sent the puck to Schenn in the slot just before skating behind the Devils net.
In fact, the Devils entered the game allowing a league-best 2.18 goals per game.
Against defensive-minded New Jersey, no less.
The stick to the calf had to hurt, but hockey players are tough.
The Flyers were fortunate to leave the ice after the first period tied 1-all.
Defenseman Radko Gudas continued to pick up penalties at an alarming rate, and his five-minute infraction led to a power-play goal that gave New Jersey a 1-0 first-period lead. Two days after beating the Kings 1-0, the Devils’ game-winning goal was credited to Joseph Blandisi. Goaltender Cory Schneider allowed five goals on 25 shots, the first time he gave up more than four goals in a game all season.
“I never got swung at like that before, but I guess I could’ve done something to avoid that penalty”, Blandisi said, via NJ.com.
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“After Jersey came to our building and beat us in overtime we had a chance to come here and try to grab two points and we did tonight”, Schenn said.
