Ryan Callahan absorbs a big hit from Kimmo Timonen.
AP Photo by Matt Slocumb

The Rangers finally lost one on the road. Cue the sirens. In all seriousness, you knew it was a possibility against an angry Philadelphia team that got their asses handed to them by San Jose the other night. Playing with more urgency, the Flyers halted the Rangers road winning streak at six by defeating them 4-2. That allowed them to move back within a point of second.

Derek Dorsett’s foolish penalty proved costly. After they fought back to tie it in a much better second period, he hi-sticked Vinny Lecavalier. Less than a couple of minutes after Derick Brassard beat Steve Mason with a power play goal, Wayne Simmonds got to a loose puck and snapped home his 19th through Henrik Lundqvist for the game-winner. Reinserted into the lineup for Dominic Moore, Dorsett’s loss of discipline was inexcusable. Especially with Alain Vigneault curiously scratching Moore, who’s one of our best faceoff and penalty kill guys. He went for more toughness and it backfired.

It happens. Vigneault wanted to see what Dorsett could give him after missing significant time. I kind of understood the decision to an extent. The Flyers played a rough tough sock ’em game. They finished every check and pulverized our guys. Particularly in a lopsided first following two blown power play opportunities.

Lecavalier scored the oddest of goals when his shot bounced off Anton Stralman’s stick and past Lundqvist. Stralman accidentally put it in his own net while trying to take Brayden Schenn. He was originally credited with the goal before it was changed. Sean Couturier made it two goals in 1:06 when he got past a weak Chris Kreider back check and abused Lundqvist, whose diving poke check came too late. Despite finishing with 27 saves, it wasn’t his best effort. He still made some big stops but clearly didn’t bring his ‘A’ game in his first start since the Olympics.

The Rangers weren’t all bad in the first outshooting the Flyers 12-10. They got plenty of chances on Mason but the much critiqued number one Flyer backstop responded to coach Craig Berube’s challenge with a strong performance. He made 33 saves including several large ones throughout. He robbed Ryan Callahan twice and later thwarted Rick Nash on a power play. Mason also benefited from some close calls. Our guys must’ve packed the wrong sticks. What other way to explain Brian Boyle, Kreider and J.T. Miller missing open nets? All part of a day’s frustration.

If there was a notable difference, it was the Flyers’ penchant for playing physical. They hit, hit and hit some more. The biggest highlight being a Zac Rinaldo clean shoulder on a bending Daniel Carcillo, who escaped with his head intact. At first glance, I thought he left his feet. But it was just a great open ice hit indicative of how badly the guys in those ugly orange jerseys wanted it. They needed it with the Devils, Caps and Blue Jackets all winning. That also means the Rangers have no margin for error with an angry Boston team visiting MSG tomorrow following back-to-back losses.

The Flyers were nasty. They still gave up plenty of chances. Our team was better in the second for a large majority. Outshooting the Philly hosts 13-7, they finally got back in it thanks to some nifty teamwork and playmaking by the top line. Up till that point, they’d been invisible. With Mats Zuccarello still out, they must produce. You can’t have shifts where Kreider struggles and our top center Derek Stepan is nowhere. After Toronto rightly waived off Benoit Pouliot’s high redirect, Stepan and Nash combined to set up a cutting Kreider for a beautiful tip at 4:59. It was his 14th goal and first in nine games. He’d been ice cold and clearly needed one. Not coincidentally, he played better afterwards as did that number one unit.

Philadelphia took some bad penalties. Scott Hartnell got away with two early but didn’t pay. Rinaldo and Carcillo each got coincidental minors for post scrum shenanigans and an odd misconduct for trying to spice it up. I hate that call. Let them play. Off an errant Flyer pass that resulted in a turnover at the blueline, Nash flew past Kimmo Timonen forcing the vet defenseman to hook him. Still strong enough to stay on his feet, Nash cut in on Mason and was stopped. Kreider had a rebound for an open net but his shot went off the heel wide. It still resulted in a power play. After getting nothing accomplished in the first half, the Rangers drew even off the rush thanks to Brassard. Lundqvist made a perfect outlet for Brad Richards, who handed to Brassard who gained the zone and used Braydon Coburn as a screen to fool Mason for his 13th. It extended his point streak to a season high eight.

Just when things were going right, Dorsett hi-sticked Lecavalier. The Flyers power play did a great job moving our penalty killers who looked exhausted. On a Timonen pinch down low, Simmonds beat Marc Staal and came out firing quickly past an unscreened Lundqvist. His 19th went right thru the wickets. Not the best goal to give up. But understandable considering all the pressure. Schenn drew the other helper.

Playing tighter defensively, the Flyers were able to protect a one-goal lead. They got more help with Miller missing another rebound opportunity that would’ve been an easy goal. It was that kind of Saturday. Brassard didn’t help taking two minor penalties which allowed the Flyers to kill more precious time on the man-advantage. It was dangerous throughout despite converting only once in four tries. The one was enough. Luke Schenn put it away when he got to a loose puck off a Scott Hartnell rebound from Claude Giroux. That made it 4-2 with 3:45 left.

Notes: Interestingly, Vigneault altered the second pairing moving Kevin Klein up to play with Staal in the third. He had a stronger game than Stralman, who struggled and spent time with John Moore. Neither saw any shifts late. Not sure if that’s temporary or something to look for tomorrow. … With Moore out, the Flyers owned the faceoff circle winning 33 of 59 with Schenn going a dominant 12 and 2. Stepan was 10 for 19 and Richards won 6 of 10. … Did Carl Hagelin even play?

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Ryan McDonagh, Rangers (3 shots, 3 hits, 7 blocks-dominant)

2nd Star-Steve Mason, Flyers (33 saves and outplayed Hank)

1st Star-Wayne Simmonds, Flyers (game-winning PPG, assist-always kills us)