Predators 1 - 4 Flyers
Final
  for this game

Simmonds leads Flyers over Predators

Feb 3, 2012 - 3:51 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Wayne Simmonds scored twice and Ilya Bryzgalov made 26 saves as Philadelphia came away with a 4-1 decision over Nashville on Thursday.

"I don't know, I guess I like playing against them," said Simmonds, who posted four points in two games against the Predators this season. "Our line tonight did really well and the same goes for the last game as well."

Matt Read also tallied and Claude Giroux saw a lengthy goal drought ended for the Flyers, who shook off a shootout loss at home to Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Ryan Suter provided the sole offense for the Predators, whose five-game win streak came to a halt. Anders Lindback allowed three goals on 27 shots in defeat.

The Preds cut their deficit to 2-1 at 8:37 of the third period as a defensive breakdown allowed Craig Smith to break free along the right-wing side and pass across to Suter for a successful wrister.

But Simmonds gave the Flyers some insurance with 4:41 remaining, slamming home a Giroux rebound from atop the crease during a power play.

Jaromir Jagr then fed Giroux for his streak-busting score into the empty net with 1:05 to play. The 24-year-old, who entered play four points behind Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin for the NHL scoring lead, hadn't lit the lamp since the Winter Classic on January 2.

"Absolutely, the leading scorer is your leader and he was snake-bit there for a while," said Flyers forward Brayden Schenn of Giroux. "It doesn't matter how it goes in, it's always nice for a guy like that to get one like that."

Nashville had a goal waved off just after the midway point of the first period on a power play when Smith was ruled to have deflected a Shea Weber shot home with a clear high stick.

Simmonds put the hosts on the board with 4:19 left in the period, ripping a turnaround shot home from the inner edge of the right circle.

The Flyers enjoyed a 5-on-3 edge midway through the middle period for a 1:34 span but failed to mount much pressure on the advantage.

Nonetheless, Read stripped Preds defenseman Kevin Klein at the Philly blue line minutes later, flew up the left wing and beat Lindback through the five- hole for 2-0 lead with 5:28 left.

"Yeah, we haven't given him enough support in terms of offense," Nashville head coach Barry Trotz said of Lindback bearing the brunt of an offensive drought. "Sometimes that happens. He's had some good teams we've played him against in the east. Obviously the Flyers, the Rangers, Washington, they've all been pretty good teams out East."

Game Notes

Simmonds notched his third career multi-goal effort...Suter picked up his first goal since November 23...Prior to the contest, the Flyers activated forward Zac Rinaldo from injured reserve, and also dealt minor-league defenseman Kevin Marshall to the Washington Capitals in exchange for minor- league forward Matt Ford -- who was assigned to Adirondack of the AHL...Kimmo Timonen posted two assists for Philadelphia.






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