On a night when the Flyers and a raucous crowd celebrated the retirement and great moments of defenseman Kimmo Timonen, the Flyers’ home dominance of the Chicago Blackhawks continued.
The Flyers used a power-play goal from Sam Gagner and a rare even-strength goal from their captain, Claude Giroux, to upend the defending Stanley Cup champs 3-0 at Wells Fargo Center.
That’s 12 consecutive regular-season victories for the Flyers over Chicago in Philadelphia. They last lost a regular-season game to the Blackhawks at home in 1996 – the year the building opened.
Goalie Michal Neuvirth was again superb in net, weathering a strong Hawks’ push in the third period. He finished with 30 saves to give him a second shutout in as many starts with the Flyers.
Scoring chances
Sean Couturier had the puck on his stick 10 feet from the net in the first period with an open shot and managed to flub it not once but twice.
Notable goals
Gagner scored his first goal as a Flyer with a second-period shot from inside the blue line. He dragged his stick and more or less wristed a flip shot through heavy traffic that goalie Corey Crawford likely didn’t see for a 1-0 lead.
Milestone
Captain Giroux celebrated his 500th game with an even-strength goal in the second period to make it 2-0. Giroux had 11 even-strength goals all last season and 14 power-play goals. His first even strength-goal on home ice last season came against Chicago on March 25. It was the team’s 36th home game.
Points
Brayden Schenn continued his strong play and picked up a power-play assist. He has three points this season.
Goalie report
Neuvirth was again solid in goal. He had a shorthanded, breakaway pad save on Marian Hossa in the second period.
Power play
The Flyers were 1 for 6, while the Blackhawks were 0 for 6.
Penalty kill
Chicago’s Jonathan Towes had a shorthanded chance, firing a turnaround shot with two men on him just wide of the far post during the Flyers' first power play.
Injuries
Close call. Michael Raffl blocked a shot early in the third period, limped off the ice and went right to the dressing room. He came out minutes later and appeared fine.
Scratches
Goalie Steve Mason (personal reasons); forwards Vinny Lecavalier (healthy) and R.J. Umberger (upper body); defenseman Luke Schenn (healthy).
Up next
The Flyers have five days off before playing back-to-back games. Yep, the NHL once again has given them a disastrous schedule for October in terms of game dates versus days between games. They’ll face Dallas next Tuesday, then go to Boston after the game to face the Bruins the next night.