Flyers 3, Rangers 2 (SO)
PHILADELPHIA - In the first meeting between the Metropolitan Division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers stemmed a losing trend from last season with a 3-2 shootout win over the New York Rangers on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center.
Centers Sam Gagner and Claude Giroux scored in the shootout, with Giroux scoring the decisive one to give the Flyers (4-2-1) their fourth win in the last five games.
In 2014-15, the Flyers went 1-3-0 against the Rangers. With this most recent win, Philadelphia has beaten the Rangers just six times in its last 22 tries.
Meanwhile, the Rangers (5-2-2) had their two-game winning streak snapped.
Both goaltenders were lights out in the third period and brilliant in overtime.
Philadelphia goalie Steve Mason (2-2-1) made 37 saves to win his second straight game. Mason stopped three of four in the shootout to win it.
New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist (4-2-2) stopped 46 shots, falling to 28-13-4 lifetime against the Flyers. He stopped only one in the shootout.
Flyers center Scott Laughton took advantage of a Rangers turnover and snapped a 1-1 tie on a slap shot from the circle to hand Philadelphia the lead 2:07 into the second period.
New York quickly countered 2 1/2 minutes later with a power-play marker from center Derick Brassard, assisted by right winger Kevin Hayes and left winger Chris Kreider. A two-minute holding penalty committed by left winger Jakub Voracek put the Rangers on the man advantage, and they took advantage to knot the score entering the final stanza.
Philadelphia nearly changed that in the final minute of the second, but Giroux, on a Flyers' power play, nailed the crossbar on a backhand attempt as the puck fell behind Lundqvist but never crossed the goal line.
Defenseman Mark Streit opened the scoring a little past the midway point of the first period by blasting one past Lundqvist from the point on a nice find from right winger Wayne Simmonds, who assisted the tally with Gagner.
But just like in the second, the Rangers got it right back two minutes later when center J.T. Miller took a deflection in front and batted it home for New York's first goal. Defenseman Keith Yandle centered a backhanded pass to left winger Oscar Lindberg, who deflected the puck into the air and right to Miller who punctuated the play.
NOTES: Flyers C Sean Couturier and G Michal Neuvirth were out of the lineup with upper-body injuries. Both are considered day-to-day after leaving Wednesday's game and not returning. With Neuvirth out, the Flyers recalled G Jason LaBarbera before the game. ... Rangers RW Emerson Etem and D Dylan McIlrath were healthy scratches. Both have appeared in one game this season. ... Flyers D Brandon Manning was back in the lineup after sitting out as a healthy scratch on Wednesday. ... Rangers C Derek Stepan played on his usual top line after missing practice Friday. Stepan underwent surgery on his wisdom tooth Wednesday. He entered the game as New York's third-leading goal scorer. ... Flyers C Vincent Lecavalier and D Luke Schenn were healthy scratches. Lecavalier has yet to play this season.