Saturday, March 2, 2013

7th time is the charm in 2-1 win. EXTRA: Sestito to make Canucks debut

March 2, 2013

Box Score (from Flyers.NHL.com)


The Flyers had six chances to reach a .500 record prior to Saturday's game against the Ottawa Senators, and each time they came up short.

But the Flyers proved that the seventh time is the charm in a 2-1 win at the Wells Fargo Center.


Coming off a shutout against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night, Ilya Bryzgalov had another great game in net.

Bryzgalov made 33 saves, allowing only one goal to Ottawa's Marc Methot 14:11 into the second period.

However, Methot's goal was negated by goals from Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds earlier in the period.

Voracek's continues his hot streak with his ninth goal of the season. He has six goals in the last six games and 14 total points in the last eight.

Voracek is also leading the team in points with nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points.

Claude Giroux, who took nine shots on Saturday, is right behind him with seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points.

Simmond's goal was his ninth of the season as well, tying him with Voracek for the team lead in goals.

The Flyers (10-10-1, 23 points) have taken back control over the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with the win.

They have a two point lead over the Winnipeg Jets (10-9-1, 21 points) at the time of this writing. The Jets will be playing the Washington Capitals, who are last in the conference, at 3:00 PM ET.

Th Flyers will hit the road for a Tuesday night game against the Atlantic Division rival New York Rangers (9-8-2, 20 points).

Like the Flyers, the Rangers have had their issues this season, but are coming off a dominant 4-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Extras: Harry Zolnierczyk delivered a viscious hit to Ottawa's Mike Lundin at the 9:13 mark of the first period. Zonierczyk received a five-minute charging major and a game misconduct for the hit, while Lundin had to be helped off the ice and did not return. There was no discpline given out by the NHL for Zolnierczyk's questionable hit on Washington's Mathieu Perreault in the final seconds of Wednesday night's game, but it would be surprising if he didn't on this one, especially because it appears that he left his feet on the play.

Here's the video for you to judge for yourself.


Erik Gustafsson did play on Saturday, after leaving Wednesday night's game against the Capitals with a lower-body injury. Gustafsson had 17:38 of ice time in the win over the Senators.

Senator's captain Daniel Alfredsson received a game misconduct for the second time in his 17-year career. Zac Rinaldo checked Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips into the boards in the neutral zone, then Alfredsson went after him. Rinaldo has become a way smarter player then last season, and it really speaks to what kind of pest he has become when he can get as clean a player as Alfredsson out of the game.

(Image from NHL.com and Getty Images)
(Video from CSNPhilly.com)

Sestito claimed off waivers, Leighton sent to AHL

Forward Tom Sestito and goaltender Michael Leighton were placed on waivers Thursday.

Leighton cleared waivers and was sent to to the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms.

Sestito, however, was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks.

Finding a spot in the Flyers' lineup was always a struggle for Sestito. He appeared in 21 games for the Flyers over the past two seasons, playing in just seven this year.

Sestito is sad about leaving Philadelphia, but will likely see more playing time in Vancouver.

“It’s bittersweet,” Sestito told CSNPhilly.com's Tim Panaccio . “I loved it here in Philly. I get a new chance and it’s a great organization to go to. They are winning right now and are always a winning team. I just want to go there and help them as much as I can.”

The Canucks have a home game on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings, and Sportsnet's Dan Murphy has confirmed that Sestito will be making his debut.

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