By:_ Damon Markiewicz
Saturday night’s game was featured as a goaltenders duel between Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Sean Burke and Philadelphia Flyers netminder Jeff Hackett._ Burke entered the game with only two goals allowed in three games played and Hackett had posted back-to-back shutouts._ Before the night was over, both teams had seen their offense breakout and combine for nine goals._
The Coyotes dropped their second straight game falling to the Flyers 5-4 in front of 15,073 at America West Arena._ Philadelphia’s offense, which had produced just five goals in their first three games, came alive against Phoenix producing three power play goals in 10 attempts._ The Flyers finished the night with a total of 14:53 of power play time.
“The guys battled hard tonight, but you have to remember to play with controlled emotion,” said Coyotes head coach Bob Francis._ “We were in the penalty box too often tonight and you are just asking for trouble when you give a team of that skill level that many power play opportunities.”
Philadelphia’s line of Mark Recchi, Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte led the offense with each player recording a multi-point night._ The loss drops Phoenix’s record to 3-2-0-0, while Philadelphia remains undefeated with a mark of 2-0-2-0.
“They were having trouble scoring goals entering tonight’s game,” said Francis._ “You knew it was only a matter of time before a team with that much skill was going to break out and explode._ To get right to the point, tonight we spent too much time in the penalty box.”
The game opened with a spirited first period that included fast skating and the two clubs combining for five goals in the opening period._ The Coyotes were penalized just 56 seconds into the game and the Flyers capitalized._ Philadelphia defenseman Joni Pitkanen scored a power play goal at 1:42 of the first period giving Philadelphia a 1-0 lead._
“We stress to the players that you want to initiate, but not retaliate and tonight we didn’t do that as well as we should,” said Francis._ “We obviously lost control at times tonight and it cost us.”
The Coyotes battled right back and tied the score at 1-1 when Ladislav Nagy scored his second goal of the season at 3:56 of the first period._ Nagy took a pass from Daymond Langkow, who made a nice play to outwork the Flyers defense behind the goal, and set up Nagy at the top of the crease.
“We fought hard tonight and that is a positive we need to take from this game,” said Langkow, who now has one goal and two assists in his last two games against his former team._ “We had some tough calls go against us, but that’s the way it goes._ Overall, it’s just a tough loss.”
The Flyers almost regained the lead late in the opening 20 minutes with the Coyotes on the power play._ Justin Williams stole the puck from Shane Doan and had a breakaway on Burke, but the Phoenix netminder made the pad save keeping the game tied.
“Every Flyer team comes at you hard in the first ten minutes of a game and they try to settle into their game,” said Burke, who lost for the first time this season._ “We played a pretty strong game, but when you have that many penalties, it disrupts the game.”
Philadelphia did recapture the lead at 11:15 of the first period when Recchi scored his first goal of the season assisted by Roenick._ The Flyers expanded their lead to 3-1 at 13:04 of the opening period when Roenick tallied on the power play assisted by Recchi.
“You have to give Phoenix a lot of credit, they worked extremely hard and played very physical,” said Roenick, who had three points in the first period and was the game’s third star._ “I think they are going to have a good year if they keep playing the way they did tonight.”
Phoenix cut their deficit to 3-2 with 1:21 remaining in the first period when Brian Savage scored his first marker of the season assisted by Paul Mara, who finished the night with three assists._ Mara dumped the puck into the Flyers zone and the puck took a Coyotes bounce right to Savage, who slid the puck into the empty goal._
“It was nice to chip in with some offense tonight, but it is kind of bitter sweat,” said Mara, who set a career high with three helpers in one game._ “We fought right to the end and we have to remain positive._ We never gave up tonight and that is something we need to continue all season.”
After a wild and entertaining opening 20 minutes, both teams settled down at the start of the second period._ Philadelphia reclaimed their two-goal lead with 5:41 remaining in the middle period when Recchi scored a power play goal, his second marker of the game giving Philadelphia a 4-2 lead.
The game got physical late in the second period when Coyotes right wing Branko Radivojevic tangled with Flyers left wing Todd Fedoruk giving Phoenix a power play that carried into the third period._ Burke also got involved in the altercation and gave his team an emotional boost heading into the final 20 minutes.
“We didn’t need to get caught up in all that extra stuff, that team over there is notorious for trying to intimidate,” said Burke, who collected two roughing minors in the second period._ “They’re not the Broad Street Bullies of the 70’s, it just plays into their hand.”
It didn’t take Phoenix long to capitalize on the man advantage as Doan scored 18 seconds into the third period inching to within one goal at 4-3.
“Scoring early in the third period is exactly what we needed at that time,” said Doan._ “We got some bounces and didn’t take advantage of them._ They outplayed us in the first period and we were playing catch up after that.”
The Flyers added an insurance goal they would later need when Keith Primeau scored his first goal of the season at 6:16 of the final period giving Philadelphia a 5-3 advantage._ Coyotes right wing Branko Radivojevic slid one past Hackett with 5:53 remaining in regulation time, but the comeback would end for Phoenix.
The Coyotes will next host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, October 23 at AWA._ It will be Toronto’s first visit to the desert since the 1997-98 campaign._ Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net Arizona, KDKB 93.3 FM and KDUS AM – 1060.
NEWS AND NOTES
I LIKE PHILLY – Coyotes left wing Brian Savage scored his first goal of the season on Saturday._ In 26 career games against Philadelphia, Savage has 13-10-23 totals.
FORMER MATES – Phoenix had three players in their lineup against Philadelphia that spent time with the Flyers._ Centers Daymond Langkow, Chris Gratton and goaltender Brian Boucher are all Flyers alumni._ On the flip side, Philadelphia had four players that played for Phoenix including: right wing Tony Amonte, center Michal Handzus, center Jeremy Roenick and goaltender Robert Esche.
SUNDAY OFF – The Coyotes will enjoy an off day on Sunday and return to practice on Monday morning starting at 11:00 a.m. at the ALLTEL Ice Den.
TONIGHT’S SCRATCHES
Phoenix – Andrei Nazarov (healthy), Daniel Cleary (healthy), Zac Bierk (Healthy), Mike Sillinger (hernia surgery)
Philadelphia – Chris Therien (healthy), Claude Lapointe (healthy), Donald Brashear (knee), John LeClair (foot), Radovan Somik (knee).
Saturday night’s game was featured as a goaltenders duel between Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Sean Burke and Philadelphia Flyers netminder Jeff Hackett._ Burke entered the game with only two goals allowed in three games played and Hackett had posted back-to-back shutouts._ Before the night was over, both teams had seen their offense breakout and combine for nine goals._
The Coyotes dropped their second straight game falling to the Flyers 5-4 in front of 15,073 at America West Arena._ Philadelphia’s offense, which had produced just five goals in their first three games, came alive against Phoenix producing three power play goals in 10 attempts._ The Flyers finished the night with a total of 14:53 of power play time.
“The guys battled hard tonight, but you have to remember to play with controlled emotion,” said Coyotes head coach Bob Francis._ “We were in the penalty box too often tonight and you are just asking for trouble when you give a team of that skill level that many power play opportunities.”
Philadelphia’s line of Mark Recchi, Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte led the offense with each player recording a multi-point night._ The loss drops Phoenix’s record to 3-2-0-0, while Philadelphia remains undefeated with a mark of 2-0-2-0.
“They were having trouble scoring goals entering tonight’s game,” said Francis._ “You knew it was only a matter of time before a team with that much skill was going to break out and explode._ To get right to the point, tonight we spent too much time in the penalty box.”
The game opened with a spirited first period that included fast skating and the two clubs combining for five goals in the opening period._ The Coyotes were penalized just 56 seconds into the game and the Flyers capitalized._ Philadelphia defenseman Joni Pitkanen scored a power play goal at 1:42 of the first period giving Philadelphia a 1-0 lead._
“We stress to the players that you want to initiate, but not retaliate and tonight we didn’t do that as well as we should,” said Francis._ “We obviously lost control at times tonight and it cost us.”
The Coyotes battled right back and tied the score at 1-1 when Ladislav Nagy scored his second goal of the season at 3:56 of the first period._ Nagy took a pass from Daymond Langkow, who made a nice play to outwork the Flyers defense behind the goal, and set up Nagy at the top of the crease.
“We fought hard tonight and that is a positive we need to take from this game,” said Langkow, who now has one goal and two assists in his last two games against his former team._ “We had some tough calls go against us, but that’s the way it goes._ Overall, it’s just a tough loss.”
The Flyers almost regained the lead late in the opening 20 minutes with the Coyotes on the power play._ Justin Williams stole the puck from Shane Doan and had a breakaway on Burke, but the Phoenix netminder made the pad save keeping the game tied.
“Every Flyer team comes at you hard in the first ten minutes of a game and they try to settle into their game,” said Burke, who lost for the first time this season._ “We played a pretty strong game, but when you have that many penalties, it disrupts the game.”
Philadelphia did recapture the lead at 11:15 of the first period when Recchi scored his first goal of the season assisted by Roenick._ The Flyers expanded their lead to 3-1 at 13:04 of the opening period when Roenick tallied on the power play assisted by Recchi.
“You have to give Phoenix a lot of credit, they worked extremely hard and played very physical,” said Roenick, who had three points in the first period and was the game’s third star._ “I think they are going to have a good year if they keep playing the way they did tonight.”
Phoenix cut their deficit to 3-2 with 1:21 remaining in the first period when Brian Savage scored his first marker of the season assisted by Paul Mara, who finished the night with three assists._ Mara dumped the puck into the Flyers zone and the puck took a Coyotes bounce right to Savage, who slid the puck into the empty goal._
“It was nice to chip in with some offense tonight, but it is kind of bitter sweat,” said Mara, who set a career high with three helpers in one game._ “We fought right to the end and we have to remain positive._ We never gave up tonight and that is something we need to continue all season.”
After a wild and entertaining opening 20 minutes, both teams settled down at the start of the second period._ Philadelphia reclaimed their two-goal lead with 5:41 remaining in the middle period when Recchi scored a power play goal, his second marker of the game giving Philadelphia a 4-2 lead.
The game got physical late in the second period when Coyotes right wing Branko Radivojevic tangled with Flyers left wing Todd Fedoruk giving Phoenix a power play that carried into the third period._ Burke also got involved in the altercation and gave his team an emotional boost heading into the final 20 minutes.
“We didn’t need to get caught up in all that extra stuff, that team over there is notorious for trying to intimidate,” said Burke, who collected two roughing minors in the second period._ “They’re not the Broad Street Bullies of the 70’s, it just plays into their hand.”
It didn’t take Phoenix long to capitalize on the man advantage as Doan scored 18 seconds into the third period inching to within one goal at 4-3.
“Scoring early in the third period is exactly what we needed at that time,” said Doan._ “We got some bounces and didn’t take advantage of them._ They outplayed us in the first period and we were playing catch up after that.”
The Flyers added an insurance goal they would later need when Keith Primeau scored his first goal of the season at 6:16 of the final period giving Philadelphia a 5-3 advantage._ Coyotes right wing Branko Radivojevic slid one past Hackett with 5:53 remaining in regulation time, but the comeback would end for Phoenix.
The Coyotes will next host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, October 23 at AWA._ It will be Toronto’s first visit to the desert since the 1997-98 campaign._ Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net Arizona, KDKB 93.3 FM and KDUS AM – 1060.
NEWS AND NOTES
I LIKE PHILLY – Coyotes left wing Brian Savage scored his first goal of the season on Saturday._ In 26 career games against Philadelphia, Savage has 13-10-23 totals.
FORMER MATES – Phoenix had three players in their lineup against Philadelphia that spent time with the Flyers._ Centers Daymond Langkow, Chris Gratton and goaltender Brian Boucher are all Flyers alumni._ On the flip side, Philadelphia had four players that played for Phoenix including: right wing Tony Amonte, center Michal Handzus, center Jeremy Roenick and goaltender Robert Esche.
SUNDAY OFF – The Coyotes will enjoy an off day on Sunday and return to practice on Monday morning starting at 11:00 a.m. at the ALLTEL Ice Den.
TONIGHT’S SCRATCHES
Phoenix – Andrei Nazarov (healthy), Daniel Cleary (healthy), Zac Bierk (Healthy), Mike Sillinger (hernia surgery)
Philadelphia – Chris Therien (healthy), Claude Lapointe (healthy), Donald Brashear (knee), John LeClair (foot), Radovan Somik (knee).
