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National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Philadelphia 5, Minnesota 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees: Chris Lee, Tim Peel
Linesmen: David Brisebois, Brian Mach
Attendance: 19020

Flyers 5, Wild 2: Wayne Simmonds put visiting Philadelphia ahead to stay late in the second period with his team-high 15th goal as the Flyers matched their season high with a third straight victory.

Sean Couturier and captain Claude Giroux scored first-period goals and Vincent Lecavalier netted his third tally in two contests as Philadelphia improved to 3-0-0 on its eight-game road trip. Michael Raffl added an empty-net goal, Jakub Voracek collected two assists and Ray Emery made 22 saves to win his third straight start.

Defenseman Marco Scandella and Charlie Coyle tallied for slumping Minnesota, which suffered its season high-tying fourth consecutive defeat (0-2-2). Darcy Kuemper, who has been pulled from four of his last five home starts, turned aside 25 shots in remaining winless since Dec. 3.

A turnover by Minnesota blue-liner Jonas Brodin set up the opening goal by Couturier, who sent a puck toward the net that caromed in off the skate of Wild defenseman Ryan Suter 7:16 into the game. Giroux quickly doubled the lead by knocking home a rebound at the 9 1/2-minute mark, but Scandella responded 30 seconds later with a blast that beat a screened Emery and Coyle forged a tie during a power play at 3:43 of the second period

Simmonds put Philadelphia ahead with a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot with 4:38 left in the session, and an apparent tying goal by Zach Parise early in the third was overturned by video review due to the net being off its moorings. Lecavalier added insurance with a deflection with 14 1/2 minutes remaining.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Voracek, who increased his league-high point (46) and assist (32) totals, has recorded three goals and six assists during his four-game point streak. ... Coyle halted a 26-game goalless drought with his third tally of the season and first since Oct. 23. ... Flyers G Steve Mason visited a back specialist Tuesday and is expected to skate on Saturday, with the possibility of returning to the lineup Monday. ... The Wild recalled G John Curry under emergency conditions from Iowa of the American Hockey League.
Top Game Performances
 
Philadelphia   Minnesota
Jakub Voracek 2 Points Charlie Coyle 1
Sean Couturier 1 Goals Charlie Coyle 1
Jakub Voracek 2 Assists Zach Parise 1
N/A Power Play Goals Charlie Coyle 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Ray Emery .917 Save Percentage Darcy Kuemper .862
Ray Emery 22 Saves Darcy Kuemper 25
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Philadelphia 30 5 0-1 4-5 12 34
Minnesota 24 2 1-5 1-1 4 35
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Winnipeg. The Wild have a W/L % of .471 after a win and .533 after a loss.
  • Philadelphia will play their next game on the road against Nashville. The Flyers have a W/L % of .538 after a win and .333 after a loss.