Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Steve Mason stopped 37-of-38 shots to
help the Philadelphia Flyers steal two points from the Los Angeles Kings in a
2-1 victory Saturday at Staples Center.
Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds tallied for the Flyers, who finished the
California portion of their five-game, cross-continent road trip at 1-1-1.
Philadelphia, which completes its travels on Tuesday in Columbus, also
snapped a season-high six-game losing skid.
Justin Williams registered the lone goal and Jonathan Quick made only 14 saves
for the Kings, who had blanked Boston, Arizona and Minnesota in their last
three victories.
Williams potted a rebound from the right side of the crease 4:09 into the
third period, capitalizing on a defensive coverage miscue in front of Mason.
The Kings were given a prime chance to even the score when Simmonds was cited
for a questionable slashing call with 4:51 to play and the hosts had a brief
5-on-3 after R.J. Umberger cleared the puck over the glass. That comeback
effort was cut short after Stoll was goaded into a penalty with 1:26 on the
clock.
Quick was sent to the bench for an extra skater one shift later, but the
Flyers had the better chances to the empty net.
Each team unleashed seven shots on goal in the game’s first 20 minutes, but
Philadelphia was the only club to solve the opposing netminder. Giroux tallied
just 4:35 in, slipping into a seam up the middle with a Mark Streit pass and
scoring on a wrister.
It was 2-0 for the Flyers at 2:08 of the second as Simmonds managed to slip a
puck through Quick’s legs from the right side on the back end of a power play
created when Stoll went off for slashing.
Mason made that lead stand up with flexible goaltending on back-to-back Kings
power plays, including closing off the near post as Anze Kopitar partially
fanned on a breakaway chance. Jeff Carter later missed a half-open net on a
one-timer from the left circle.
Mason finished the second with 15 saves and halted 22 pucks through 40
minutes.
Game Notes
The Flyers claimed their first road win since Oct. 22 at Pittsburgh, having
gone 0-7-2 in between … Mason earned his first win since Nov. 22 vs.
Columbus after an 0-3-2 clip … Mason has stopped 72-of-73 Los Angeles shots
in his two road appearances with the Flyers in the last 10 months, leading the
Flyers to wins in both games … Simmonds, who leads Philly with 11 goals,
scored in back-to-back games for the second time all season, following a
three-game run (5G) from Oct. 9-14 … Los Angeles lost despite tying a
season-low for shots allowed in one game (Oct. 19 vs. Minnesota).
