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Flyers nip Rangers for first win of 2013

Jan 25, 2013 - 4:24 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Jakub Voracek netted the deciding goal in the second period and Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 18-of-19 shots, as the Philadelphia Flyers avoided a franchise-worst start with a gritty 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers.

Wayne Simmonds provided the other score for the Flyers, who had dropped the first three games of their truncated schedule and had never before lost four games in regulation to begin any season.

"I like the way the team played tonight and I think we deserved the win tonight," Bryzgalov said. "Guys played unbelievable tonight and the team looked sharp in the crease tonight. There was great sacrifice made with guy blocking the shots, and nobody cheats. I can't say enough words it was just a great game."

Philadelphia also halted an eight-game losing streak to their division rivals without the services of forwards Danny Briere (wrist), Scott Hartnell (broken toe), and Brayden Schenn (1-game suspension).

Taylor Pyatt produced the lone goal for the Rangers, who were coming off a 4-3 overtime win against Boston on Wednesday. Henrik Lundqvist played well in defeat, making 31 saves.

"Listen we had some good minutes tonight. I thought we were rolling our lines and I thought we were playing really well," said Rangers head coach John Tortorella. "We have just an awful turnover that causes the first goal, and then the whole complexion changes. We had some good minutes tonight but certainly not from everybody and not consistenly enough through the 60."

Pyatt's tap-in off a Marian Gaborik pass at the right side on a New York power play at the 1:39 mark of the third period pulled the visitors to within 2-1.

The Rangers had a 5-on-3 edge for a full two minutes through the middle portion of the period after a double-minor to Tye McGinn for high-sticking and a hooking call on Nicklas Grossmann 15 seconds later.

Bryzgalov made a sliding glove stop on a Rick Nash one-timer at the end of the two-man advantage, and the Flyers controlled play for the majority of the remaining 5-on-4 action to keep it a one-goal spread.

"There were a couple of unfortunate penalties there and you never want to deal with five-on-threes but you certainly don't want to deal with them for two minutes," said Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette. "Guys did a really good job executing and blocking shots and we got a couple of big saves when we needed it."

Lundqvist wasn't pulled for an extra skater until 66 seconds remained, but the visitors couldn't muster any quality chances around the Philly crease.

Lundqvist shined from the outset, as the hungry hosts pelted him with 11 first-period shots. Bryzgalov was equally good on five New York opportunities.

The Flyers finally solved Lundqvist with 8:07 remaining in the second period as a left-point shot by Grossmann found the shin pad of Simmonds for a redirection score.

It was 2-0 for the hosts on a power play just over four minutes later when Voracek emerged from a goalmouth scramble with a backhander into an open net from the right post.

Game Notes

Philadelphia's last win against New York was a 4-2 decision at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 20, 2011 ... The Flyers' last home win over the Rangers was a 4-1 triumph on Dec. 18, 2010 ... The Blueshirts played without forward Arron Asham who is dealing with a groin injury, and scratched both forward Chris Kreider and defenseman Matt Gilroy ... Philly defenseman Andrej Meszaros departed the game in the third period and did not return. He left the arena in a harness holding his left shoulder... Simmonds' goal ended his club's scoreless drought of 126:56 dating back to the second period of Sunday's 5-2 loss in Buffalo.