Flyers 3, Jets 2
WINNIPEG -- Ilya Bryzgalov likes Winnipeg after all.
The Philadelphia Flyers goalie, who earned the wrath of Winnipeg hockey fans -- perhaps permanently -- two years ago after he publicly dissed the city when it was rumored the Phoenix Coyotes might relocate to Winnipeg, kicked out 24 shots in a 3-2 victory Tuesday night. The then-Coyotes netminder, who was born in Togliatti, Russia, said he didn't want to move to the Manitoba capital because of the cold weather, the small population and lack of parks.
Bryzgalov later apologized for the remarks but it was too late. Winnipeggers hold a grudge and he was booed every time he touched the puck during his first visit to Winnipeg a year ago and tonight was no different. He was named the third star in Tuesday's game.
Kimmo Timonen scored the winning goal on a Flyers' power play at 17:08 of the second period. It was the fifth shot of the game on Jets starting netminder, Al Montoya.
The Flyers never trailed. They opened the scoring on their first shot of game at 8:07 of the first period when Brayden Schenn tipped home his third of the season. The Jets tied it a few minutes later when Andrew Ladd slapped home a nifty backhand spin-around pass from Blake Wheeler.
Flyers forward Tie McGinn gave his team a 3-1 cushion when a pass from Jakub Voracek deflected in off his skate early in the third period. The play was reviewed but it was determined there was no kicking motion.
Ladd gave the Jets a chance at a last-second comeback with his fifth goal of the year with 46 seconds left to play.
After McGinn bumped into Jets goalie Montoya early in the second period without getting a goaltender interference penalty, he was immediately challenged by Jets defenseman Mark Stuart. McGinn got the knockdown but was behind on points after several solid blows by Stuart.
NOTES: The Jets took the season series from the Flyers last year with a 3-0-1 record. The most memorable game by far was a 9-8 Jets win on Oct. 27, 2011. ... The Flyers are 31-10-3-4 all-time against the Jets/Thrashers franchise. ... Jets backup goaltender Al Montoya earned his third start of the season and second in a row after a 1-0 shutout over Ottawa last Saturday. ... The Flyers flew into Winnipeg immediately after their 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre Monday night. ... Flyers assistant general manager John Paddock was spotted in the press box. Born two hours down the road in Brandon, he is the former coach and GM of the old Jets franchise. ... The Flyers called up LW Harry Zolnierczyk from Adirondack early Tuesday. He was stoned by Montoya on a first period breakaway. ... Jets C Alex Burmistrov had his first giveaway of the season late in the second period. ... Anthony Peluso, who was picked up on waivers from the St. Louis Blues last month, made his first appearance about three minutes into the game. It didn't take him long to get on the score sheet. He took a penalty for holding at 3:42. He took a second minor for charging midway through the second. ... RW Chris Thorburn and D Grant Clitsome were healthy scratches for the Jets while D Andreas Lilja, C Sean Couturier and Tom Sestito did not suit up for the Flyers.
