Final
Biron, Flyers blank winless Thrashers
Oct 17, 2007 - 4:15 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Martin Biron and a decisive second period added to the Atlanta Thrashers' woes this season.Biron stopped all 31 shots he faced and a three-goal second period lifted the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-0 victory over the winless Thrashers on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old goaltender posted his 19th career shutout and first of the season by stopping nine shots in the first period, 10 in the second and 12 in the third. Biron's last shutout came on April 18, 2006, when he blanked the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-0, as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.
"It felt like it was a long time ago," Biron said of his last shutout. "You don't play for shutouts, but they're nice when they come."
Biron's best save in this one came as the first period was about to expire. With Atlanta on its third power play, Eric Perrin was poised to deposit a rebound into an open net. Biron - who still was on the ice from the original shot - shifted his body, raised his glove and knocked the puck away.
"I'm not sure how he did what he did, but he did it and I'm happy to see it," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "He looks really confident in goal right now."
Biron also had some help from his defense.
"(After) I got the glove on the puck," Biron said, "I turned around and there was a guy in the slot with a wide-open net. I saw Gator (Jason Smith) block the shot when I had my back turned on the play."
Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Sami Kapanen and defenseman Randy Jones scored for the Flyers, who are 22-3-4 all-time against the Thrashers and have won seven straight meetings in the series since November 18, 2005.
"We had some success against them last year," Carter said. "I guess it carried over to tonight, and we played a solid game."
Winners of its last three, Philadelphia has outscored its opponents, 15-3, during that stretch.
As for Atlanta - which has been outscored, 27-9, this season - it is a far cry from last season's club that won a franchise-record 43 games en route to capturing the Southeast Division title.
Thrashers coach Bob Hartley preached patience for his struggling team.
"The last thing those boys need is for me to be hard on them," Hartley said. "We have to find solutions. We have young people and lots of new faces. We're going to turn things around."
Richards put the Flyers on the board just 81 seconds into the second period.
Daniel Briere came out from behind the net and took a sharp-angle shot, which was stopped by goaltender Johan Hedberg. The rebound, however, came to Joffrey Lupul, who quickly backhanded the puck across the goal mouth, setting up Richards for his third tally of the season.
"I feel like I'm contributing to the team a little more this year," Richards said. "It's fun coming to the rink every day when you're playing like this and you are full of confidence."
Carter doubled the Flyers' advantage with his fourth goal in as many games.
Carter wristed the puck from the top of the left faceoff circle through a screen set by Scott Hartnell. The puck deflected off Atlanta defenseman Niclas Havelid and found its way over the shoulder of Hedberg to give the Flyers a 2-0 bulge with just over seven minutes remaining in the period.
"I try to do the same thing," Carter said. "You get some good bounces in the right place in the right time."
Kapanen capped the second-period barrage 34 seconds later.
After R.J. Umberger's initial blast was stopped by Hedberg, the puck glided toward the bottom of the right circle. Kapanen, who had a step on Perrin, shot it into the vacant net to give Philadelphia a 3-0 lead.
In the first five games of the season, the Flyers have outscored the opposition, 11-5, in the second period.
"It's been good lately," Carter said of Philadelphia's second-period play. "We just keep plugging away at it - and it might take a while to get them to break down and get some opportunities."
Jones kept the pressure on in the third period, accepting a beautiful feed from Carter and depositing it over the left shoulder of Hedberg to provide a 4-0 cushion.
Hedberg, who was drafted by the Flyers in 1994, finished with 29 saves.
"We can't just lay down and die and think that someone is going to pull us out," Hedberg said of the team's winless start. "We have to come back to work tomorrow, learn from what happened today and move on."
Marian Hossa, who missed Atlanta's last three games with a groin injury, hit the crossbar with 12 minutes remaining in the first period. Hossa played just over 20 minutes and had four shots on goal.
- NHL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 0 0 0 0
PHILADELPHIA 0 3 1 4 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: PHI - MIKE RICHARDS 3 (JOFFREY LUPUL, DANIEL BRIERE) 1:31
PHI - JEFF CARTER 4 (SCOTT HARTNELL, JOFFREY LUPUL) 12:56
PHI - SAMI KAPANEN 2 (R.J. UMBERGER) 13:30
3RD PRD: PHI - RANDY JONES 1 (JEFF CARTER) 8
Oct 16 9:27 PM - NHL
ATLANTA 0
PHILADELPHIA 4
3RD PRD: PHI - RANDY JONES 1 (JEFF CARTER) 8:09
Thrashers vs. FlyersOct 16 9:07 PM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 0 0 0
PHILADELPHIA 0 3 3 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: PHI - MIKE RICHARDS 3 (JOFFREY LUPUL, DANIEL BRIERE) 1:31
PHI - JEFF CARTER 4 (SCOTT HARTNELL, JOFFREY LUPUL) 12:56
PHI - SAMI KAPANEN 2 (R.J. UMBERGER) 13:30
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND
Oct 16 8:37 PM - NHL
ATLANTA 0
PHILADELPHIA 3
2ND PRD: PHI - SAMI KAPANEN 2 (R.J. UMBERGER) 13:30
Thrashers vs. FlyersOct 16 8:27 PM - NHL
ATLANTA 0
PHILADELPHIA 2
2ND PRD: PHI - JEFF CARTER 4 (SCOTT HARTNELL, JOFFREY LUPUL) 12:56
Thrashers vs. FlyersOct 16 8:26 PM - NHL
ATLANTA 0
PHILADELPHIA 1
2ND PRD: PHI - MIKE RICHARDS 3 (JOFFREY LUPUL, DANIEL BRIERE) 1:31
Thrashers vs. FlyersOct 16 8:05 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 0 0
PHILADELPHIA 0 0 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NONE
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ATL 9 9
PHI 12 12
GOALIES: ATL - JOHAN HEDBERG
PHI - MARTIN BIRON
Oct 16 7:46 PM
Related News
- Flyers will reportedly have new uniforms next season Mar 30
- Preview: Those pesky Sens Mar 30
- BSH 2.0 Update - The end is nigh Mar 30
- Thursday Morning Fly By: On the road again Mar 30
- Wednesday Morning Fly By: Things are getting Frosty Mar 29
- Flyers 3, Canadiens 2: Frost scores twice as winning streak continues Mar 28
- Preview: Flyers host depleted Canadiens Mar 28
- Tuesday Morning Fly By: Rebuilding from the top down Mar 28
- Dave Scott retiring from Flyers Mar 27
- Monday Morning Fly By: Are the Flyers TOO good? Mar 27
- BSH Radio Special: Live from the Flyers Charities Carnival! Mar 26
- Preview: Red Wings roll into town Mar 25