Simmonds, Flyers beat Sharks in OT
PHILADELPHIA -- Wayne Simmonds scored 64 seconds into overtime, stripping Brent Burns of the puck and beating goaltender Aaron Dell on a breakaway to give the Flyers a 2-1 win over the Sharks on Saturday.
Rookie defenseman Ivan Provorov scored the Flyers' other goal and Michal Neuvirth stopped 23 of 24 shots to halt a three-game losing streak for the Flyers.
Patrick Marleau netted the only goal for the Sharks, who lost for the fourth straight time and fell to 33-19-5.
The Flyers had beaten the Sharks only once in the previous 16 seasons (1-12-5-2) before Saturday's win.
Michal Neuvirth picked up the win with 23 saves, improving to 9-5-2.
After two scoreless periods, the Flyers opened the scoring 6:22 into the third period on Provorov's fifth goal of the season. His defense partner, Andrew MacDonald, rang a shot off the left post and Provorov went top shelf on Dell for his fifth goal of the season.
The goal was the Flyers' 0first 5-on-5 goal in 245 minutes, 25 seconds. But their lead didn't last long.
Marleau tied the score only 3:01 later, cashing in on Brandon Manning's holding penalty on Joel Ward. Marleau took a centering pass from Kevin Labanc and went top shelf on Neuvirth.
Marleau's goal was his 20th of the season and his eighth in nine games.
The Sharks thought they had a 1-0 lead 3:44 into the game when Kevin Labanc, playing in place of late injury scratch Logan Couture, scored a goal off the stick of Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
It would have been Labanc's eighth goal of the season, but Flyers coach Dave Hakstol challenged the call on the ice and the goal was overturned.
Upon review, referee Francis Charron determined that Labanc prevented Neuvirth from getting to the other side of the net with a stick to Neuvirth's midsection.
The Flyers owned a 14-4 shot advantage in the opening period, but Dell was spectacular, stopping Simmonds with a glove save from close range and Claude Giroux from the high slot.
The Flyers needed Neuvirth to be strong in the second period and he was, stopping all seven shots he faced, including three on a Sharks power play in which Neuvirth lost his stick.
NOTES: C Jordan Weal, who was recalled to replace injured forward Travis Konecny, started the game on the left side of a line with C Sean Couturier and RW Jake Voracek. ... Sharks G Martin Jones, who ranks second in the NHL in minutes played behind Edmonton's Cam Talbot, is expected to get the call on Sunday, when the Sharks visit the New Jersey Devils. ... The Flyers hit the road for three straight games beginning Wednesday night in Calgary, followed by trips to Edmonton on Thursday and Vancouver on Sunday.