Flyers bully Devils on Broad Street
Last Updated: Monday, November 16, 2009 | 10:35 PM ET
By Michael Coomber, CBC Sports
Ray Emery made 35 saves and James van Riemsdyk scored the game winner as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Monday night in Philadelphia
The Flyers got on the board just seven minutes into the first period.
Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur's clearing attempt was intercepted by Philadelphia forward Aaron Asham, who found teammate Claude Giroux. The young winger sent a cross-crease pass to Darroll Powe who beat Brodeur for his sixth marker of the season.
Philadelphia (11-5-1) added to their lead early in the second period.
On a Devils' penalty that carried-over from the first, Scott Hartnell capitalized for his sixth goal of the season. Claude Giroux and Mike Richards cycled the puck in the right corner, Richards then found Hartnell at the side of the net. The feisty forward threw the puck on goal, which ricocheted off Brodeur and into the open cage, giving the home side a 2-0 lead.
"We knew that they [Devils] were pretty hot coming in," Giroux said. "We stuck to our game plan by keeping it simple and shutting down their top forwards with great teamwork. We put a lot of pressure on them, made sure they didn't get a lot of room with the puck, and waited for our chances."
The Devils (14-5-0) cut into the deficit at 15:42 of the second frame.
On the two-man advantage, Devils forward David Clarkson netted his seventh of the year. Zach Parise's shot caromed off Emery and landed at Clarkson's feet. Clarkson then slapped the puck past Emery, making it 2-1. Patrick Elias also assisted on the goal.
"You never want to lose, but we knew that we weren't going to go 41-0 on the road," Parise said. "But 9-0 is pretty good, so we will just try to start it up again in Nashville [on Thursday]."
Philadelphia regained the two-goal cushion half-way through the third.
Rookie James van Riemsdyk potted his fifth goal of the season after a flurry of chances in front of the New Jersey netminder. As Jeff Carter poked the puck away from a Devils defenceman, Brodeur tipped it right to the former University of New Hampshire standout, who beat Brodeur high on the glove side.
"Brodeur's a tough goalie but I think I got a little lucky," van Riemsdyk said of his game-winning goal. "I sort of handcuffed him."
Parise added a goal with 0.6 seconds remaining, which started a scuffle between several members of the Flyers and Devils. The goal was a non-factor, but a fitting end to a night honouring NHL penalty-minute king Dave (The Hammer) Schultz.
Remembering 'The Hammer'
On Monday, the Flyers honoured the long-time enforcer Schultz by raising his number '8' to the rafters at Wachovia Center.
In the 1974-75 season, Schultz was a menace on the ice. A valued member of the notorious "Broad Street Bullies" Shultz recorded an NHL record 472 penalty minutes in 76 games. The Flyers went on to win the Stanley Cup that season.
"Dave Shultz helped define Philadelphia Flyers hockey," Comcast-Spectator chairman Ed Snider told the Flyers website.
"He played with a high level of intensity, always proudly defending the orange and black and making it difficult for our opponents. He never backed down and he fought hard every night, wearing his heart on his sleeve. While his temporary home was in the penalty box, we're glad that he now has a permanent home in the Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Fame."
Shultz joins Snider and several Flyers legends including Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Bill Barber, Rick MacLeish, and Ron Hextall in the Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Fame.
Flyers goaltender Ray Emery continued his solid start registering his 11th win of the season.
The Hamilton native made 14 saves in the first period, 11 saves in the second and 35 in the game. Emery was also Philadelphia's best penalty-killer, allowing only one goal on six power plays for New Jersey.
Emery improves to 8-2-1 in the City of Brotherly Love, and 3-2 away from the Wachovia Center.
With files from The Associated Press
