NHL Update: Carolina Hurricanes defeat Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2
Erik Cole recorded the game-winning goal in the final stanza, as Carolina Hurricanes rallied to defeat Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, at RBC Centre on Friday night.
Chad LaRose and Jeff Skinner each also lit the lamp for Hurricanes, who opened a four-game home-stand and broke a nine-game losing streak against Flyers.
Cam Ward started between the pipes, turning away 21 shots in the win.
Blair Betts and Braydon Coburn both found the back of the net for Flyers, who had won their previous two games. Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves. He played well but came up just short in the loss.
Hurricanes dominated the play by scoring two goals early in the opening stanza.
LaRose got the scoring started for 1-0 lead nearly four minutes into the first period, as he got the credit for an unusual deflected goal. Joe Corvo released a shot that seemed to click off two Philadelphia players Sean O'Donnell and Andrej Meszaros.
LaRose redirected it through Bobrovsky's pads for his 11th goal of the season.
Skinner doubled up the advantage, 2-0, just 6 ½ minutes into the first period, as he moved up the left side and ripped a hard shot that found its way into the net for his 22nd goal of the season.
Philadelphia came in action, getting on the board to make it 2-1 game with a shorthanded goal just three minutes into the middle session.
With forward Andreas Nodl in the box for hooking, Philadelphia capitalized when Betts brought the puck into the offensive zone. Betts then rushed up the centre, shifted to his left and fired a wrist shot over Ward.
Hurricanes maintained their one-goal edge into the final session, but Philadelphia’s pressure paid off down the stretch with five minutes left in the game.
Scott Hartnell controlled the puck in the zone at the left point and dished it to Ville Leino, who drifted toward the goal line and centred into a scrum of players. Coburn, who was waiting at the inside edge of the right circle, rushed into the
slot to grab a rebound and knocked it in for a 2-2 deadlock.
"Momentum can change very quickly... sometimes within a shift or two," Cole said. "You have to be able to have a short memory and continue to play hard."
However, Flyers defence was caught out of position and Hurricanes went on top, 3-2, with three minutes left in the final period. The goal came when Jussi Jokinen sent a cross-ice pass to Cole, who blasted a one-timer past Bobrovsky's glove to
wrap up the win at 3-2.
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