(SportsNetwork.com) – Matt Beleskey has helped give the Anaheim Ducks some
scoring depth and he’ll look to stay hot on Wednesday night when his club
hosts the struggling Philadelphia Flyers.
The 26-year-old Beleskey has netted five goals in his past seven games,
including the game-winner in Monday’s 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. It
gave the winger a career-high 12 goals in just 26 games this season.
A former 2006 fourth-round pick, Beleskey netted 11 goals in 2009-10 and had
nine in 55 games last season, but he has taken advantage of his opportunities
this season.
“I’m getting lots of good looks. That was a great play by (Ryan Getzlaf)
and (Corey Perry) did a great job with the screen,” Beleskey said of his
recent game-winner. “I’m just trying to get shots through.”
Sami Vatanen and Devante Smith-Pelly also scored for the Ducks, who ended a
two-game skid, and Frederik Andersen stopped 32 shots in the win.
“It’s like a good wave, you just have to keep riding it,” Beleskey said. “We
are just trying to have some fun and winning is the way to do it.”
Defenseman Eric Brewer, though, suffered a foot injury on Monday and his
status for this game is unknown. He was acquired from Tampa Bay in a trade on
Nov. 28.
Meanwhile, fellow blueliner Mark Fistric is nearing a return from a back
injury that has kept him out of action since Oct. 30. He is questionable to
return tonight.
The Flyers could use all the advantages they can get at this point, having
lost a season-high five straight games as well as eight in a row on the road.
They have dropped the first two of a five-game road trip, including last
night’s 2-1 setback in San Jose.
The Sharks’ Matt Nieto got the winner with 11.5 seconds to play, putting home
a rebound of a Patrick Marleau shot.
Sean Couturier scored the only goal of the game for the Flyers, who have lost
five in a row for the first time since March 31-April 8, 2011 and are on their
longest winless stretch on the road since going 0-7-2 from Feb. 20-March 16,
1999.
“The team played a good game but if you don’t win it’s not good enough,” said
Philadelphia netminder Steve Mason, who made 25 saves.
Rookie forward Scott Laughton earned the an assist on Couturier’s goal for his
first NHL point. That came on a night in which veteran forward Vincent
Lecavalier was made a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. He has
gone 12 straight games without a goal.
The Flyers have lost three in a row to the Ducks, including a 4-3 shootout
setback in Philadelphia on Oct. 14. Beleskey had a goal in regulation for
Anaheim and Andersen made 39 saves.
The Ducks have won six of their last seven versus the Flyers overall.
