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Rangers continue success in Philadelphia, down Flyers

Feb 10, 2008 - 12:00 AM By Mike Luongo PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- For the New York Rangers, there is no place like home - unless they are at the Wachovia Center.

The Rangers got first- and second-period power-play goals and some spectacular goaltending from Stephen Valiquette to power their way to a 2-0 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday afternoon.

It was the seventh victory in as many trips to the City of Brotherly Love for the Rangers, who improved to 4-1-0 overall this season against the Flyers.

"It just a number that doesn't mean much," Rangers All-Star center Scott Gomez said. "You just can't explain it. We know that we have to be more detailed when you come in here. That's the only difference from our side."

"Obviously, they have done a good job here in Philly," Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher said. "For some reason, we go into New York and I don't to say we play better, but things seem to go a little different there. It is something that we have to look at."

Nigel Dawes got the Rangers on the board at 16:35 of the first period when the puck ricocheted off the end boards and then the left pad of goaltender Martin Biron.

Dawes wristed shots from the right and left side of the net before finally converting his third attempt with a short tip-in past Biron.

It marked the eighth straight game in which New York has scored at least once on the power play, the club's longest such streak since the 1993-94 Stanley Cup championship season.

"Special teams, especially around this time of year, (are) going to be huge," Gomez said. "We're starting to come though on the power play. (Assistant coach) Perry Pearn, our power play coach, is just amazing. We'll give him the credit."

While on the man advantage again, Gomez doubled the lead at 3:25 of the second session as he drifted along the blue line and fired a slap shot past a screened Biron.

"The bad bounce on the first goal is going to happen in the game," Biron said. "On the other one, Gomez made a good play and took a shot. I had a couple of players in front of me and I didn't get to see it. But, there was still a lot time left to get back in it. We just didn't do it."

Valiquette, who posted his first career shutout against the Flyers in his most recent start on January 31, stopped 31 shots in this one. The 30-year-old made eight saves in the first period, 12 in the second and 11 in the third.

The netminder credited his goaltending coach for keeping him sharp between starts. "Benoit Allaire, I believe in him," Valiquette said. "That is the most important thing for a goalie, is to believe in your coach and what you are doing for preparation when you are going to play."

The loss combined with Pittsburgh's 4-2 win on Saturday over the Los Angeles Kings put Philadelphia (65) two points behind the first-place Penguins (67) in the Atlantic Division. The intrastate rivals meet Sunday in the Steel City.

"We have a big weekend ahead of us," Biron said. "Tomorrow's game is that much more important. We had looked at this weekend as a way to solidify our position. Now, we have to look at it as a challenge to get back on the winning track."

Midway through the second period, the Flyers' frustration spilled over.

At 12:33 of the session, Philadelphia's Steve Downie and New York defenseman Fedor Tyutin crossed paths along the boards. As linesman Pat Dapuzzo jumped to avoid the contact, Downie's skate came up and hit the referee in the nose.

Dapuzzo fell to the ice immediately and started bleeding profusely. Diagnosed with a broken nose, he received 20 stitches and did not return to the game.

As Dapuzzo was nearly motionless on the ice, Downie and Rangers enforcer Colton Orr skated onward before both teams started throwing punches. Six fighting majors were handed out during the fracas, sparking a period in which 14 penalties were assessed.