Philadelphia, PA – Brayden Schenn posted two goals and one assist, as the Philadelphia Flyers scored three times in the third period to beat the Winnipeg Jets, 5-3, on Saturday.
Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds added a score and helper each for the Flyers, who claimed their third win in four tries thanks to three power-play tallies.
Ilya Bryzgalov made his 18th start in 20 games, and picked up the win with 34 saves as Philadelphia earned its first win this year (1-7-0) when trailing after two periods.
"We just said in the second intermission, we have to be able to thrive in situations like this. Whether we are up 3-2 or down 3-2, we have to find a way to win hockey games and tonight we did," Schenn said. "It was a huge two points to keep on climbing up in the standings, clawing our way back to a playoff spot."
Evander Kane, Olli Jokinen and Alex Burmistrov provided the offense for the Jets, who have dropped four of their last six.
Ondrej Pavelec yielded four scores on 38 shots in defeat.
"I thought we played a pretty hard game if you take the special teams out of the scenario," said Jets head coach Claude Noel. "In the areas where the puck wasn't in a tough area to defend, we gave up pressure in areas where don't normally pressure and they came right back on our net off the rush. I'm disappointed to say the least."
Philly was on the power play when Schenn finished a 3-on-2 rush with a one- timer from the slot off a backhanded Jakub Voracek dish to tie the game, 3-3, with 6:18 played in the third period.
Simmonds put the hosts on top while on another advantage at 8:57, left alone at the left pipe to shovel home a perfect cross-crease pass from Schenn.
Winnipeg failed to draw even on the advantage with 3:49 to play, then Pavelec was called to the bench for an extra skater with 1:31 to go and Zac Rinaldo added an empty-net goal which barely beat the buzzer.
"I think it was a good game. It was fun to play. Good atmosphere," said Pavelec. "We were up 3-2. Just not enough to close the game. We played well in the third, but two stupid penalties cost you the game."
Kane opened the scoring on a redirection of a Nik Antropov pass at the right post with 4:48 played in the first period, He had a prime chance to double Winnipeg's lead from the same spot six minutes later, but whiffed on the shot.
Schenn's third-chance whack at a loose puck in the crease evened the score with 4:42 left in the first. Danny Briere set up the play by challenging Pavelec on the left side twice before the puck came loose.
Jokinen made it 2-1 for the Jets at 2:34 of the second during a 4-on-4 situation when he whirled in the right circle and beat Bryzgalov through the pads.
"You know, he caught me on the movement. I just stopped and in that time he took the shot," said Bryzgalov of his difficulty with tracking Jokinen's motion. "I was not set yet for the shot because I followed him and I didn't stop fast enough."
Winnipeg gained a two-goal edge with 8:47 left as Burmistrov managed to get his stick on a fluttering Grant Clitsome point drive which sailed home.
A Giroux blast from the bottom of the left circle during a 5-on-3 pulled Philly within a goal at 14:24, but the Jets survived the rest of the one-man edge.
Game Notes
Schenn tied a season high with three points, first accomplished on Feb. 9 vs. Carolina (1G, 2A) ... His last two-goal game happened on Mar. 29, 2012 at Toronto in a 7-1 Philly win ... Voracek, who finished with three assists, has 12 points (4G, 8A) in the last five games ... The Flyers welcomed back forward Scott Hartnell after a 16-game absence due to a broken toe in his left foot and subsequent surgery. Hartnell ended up with five shots on goal in nearly 15 minutes of ice time and was a minus-one with two minor penalties ... Kane extended his point streak to six games ... Jokinen recorded his first goal since Jan. 31, a span of 10 games.
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