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PHILADELPHIA -- Flyers coach Craig Berube wasnt surprised by the way the Philadelphia bounced back on Saturday from a blowout loss because hes seen that type of resilience all season. Authentic Jerrell Powe Jersey . Wayne Simmonds had a goal and an assist to lead Philadelphia to a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Vincent Lecvalier, Sean Couturier and Luke Schenn also scored for Philadelphia, which rebounded from a 7-3 home defeat to San Jose on Thursday. Chris Kreider and Derick Brassard scored for the Rangers, who lost for just the second time in their past nine games. Philadelphia came out with an edge in the first period following Thursdays loss that Berube called "embarrassing." The Flyers improved to 4-0-1 this season following games in which theyve been beaten by four or more goals. "I think our guys have good character," Berube said. "I was pretty confident wed come out and play hard." Unlike Thursday against the Sharks, Berube liked what he saw on Saturday versus the Rangers. "Theyre a fast, hard-working team and if you want to compete with them you need to play a fast, hard game," he said. The opening 20 minutes featured physical play by both sides, including big hits from Philadelphias Zac Rinaldo on Daniel Carcillo and New Yorks Derek Stepan on Steve Downie, among others. The teams lingered on the ice for several minutes after the first-period horn, with the Rangers seemingly upset by a check from Brayden Schenn in front of New Yorks bench late in the period. The Flyers scored twice in the opening period, with the goals coming 1:06 apart. Lecavalier opened the scoring at 7:04 on a goal that went off Rangers defenceman Anton Stralman. "Thats huge," Lecavalier said. "You want to get that first goal and we got that." Brayden Schenn first was credited with the goal, but it was changed in between periods. Couturier followed with his 10th goal of the season at 8:10, beautifully deking past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and roofing the puck with a forehand shot into an empty net from a difficult angle. It looked as if the Rangers cut the deficit in half early in the second period, but Benoit Pouliots apparent tally was waved off because Pouliot deflected the puck past Flyers goalie Steve Mason with a high stick. Mason finished with 33 saves. Mason was pulled in Thursdays defeat to San Jose, and he was happy to bounce back with a victory. The fact that he outdueled one of the games premier goalies was secondary. "It feels good," Mason said. "But I wasnt going out there (thinking) Steve Mason versus Henrik Lundqvist. I was trying to help the Flyers beat the Rangers, and thats what we did." New York got on the board a few minutes later when Kreider tipped Rick Nashs pass past Mason and just inside the post from close range. After Kreider missed a great chance to tie the game when his backhanded attempt at an empty net went wide with 10 minutes left in the period, Brassards power-play goal at 11:42 of the second tied the game at 2. Brassards slap shot from the slot after a perfect pass from Brad Richards went off Masons pads and through his legs. Simmonds beat Lundqvist through the legs on a forehand shot from a tough angle on the power play at 13:23 to put Philadelphia back in front 3-2. "I read a high shot and he went five-hole," Lundqvist said. "I thought I was patient on the shot; he just beat me. I thought overall we played a really good game and created a lot of good chances. Disappointing, obviously, but I thought we did a lot of good things." Philadelphia had an apparent goal waved off 3 1/2 minutes into the third period when the officials ruled that Lundqvist had covered the puck even though it trickled into the goal. Mason kept the Flyers in front with a strong, sprawling pad save on Stepan from just in front of the crease with 10 minutes left. Luke Schenn provided an insurance goal with 3:45 left, beating Lundqvist with a wrister from the slot. Lundqvist, who didnt start the Rangers first game following the Olympic break after helping Sweden earn the silver medal in Sochi, finished with 27 saves. He entered the Olympic break having won his last five starts. In his last 14 games against Philadelphia entering Saturday, Lundqvist was 12-2-0 with a 1.77 GAA. Philadelphia defenceman Kimmo Timonen returned to the lineup after sitting out Thursdays 7-3 loss to San Jose to rest after returning from Sochi and had two assists. Timonen helped Finland to the bronze medal. Philadelphia won for the fourth time in the past 16 meetings with the Rangers. NOTES: Rangers RW Derek Dorsett returned to the lineup for the first time since breaking his fibula on Jan. 3. ... New York centre Mats Zuccarello missed his second straight game after fracturing his left hand in the Olympics. ... Flyers backup goalie Ray Emery (lower body injury) wasnt available. Cal Heeter, who never has played in an NHL game, was called up from the AHLs Adirondack Phantoms to back up Mason. Emery was injured in Thursdays loss to the Sharks after he replaced Mason in the second period. Berube said afterward that Emery wouldnt make the trip to Washington for Sundays game, and the coach declined to name his starting goalie for the matchup. Authentic Randy Bullock Jersey . -- Ernie Els hardly ever catches a break at the Match Play Championship. Authentic Ben Jones Jersey . Five first-round trades were made Tuesday night as well as another involving an early second-round selection.ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- World champion Sebastian Vettel is not finished with Formula Ones record books just yet. His dominant win in Sundays Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was his seventh in a row -- matching Michael Schumachers feat in 2004 -- and 11th of the season that leaves him 130 points ahead of his nearest rival. At 26, the Red Bull driver is the youngest four-time F1 champion. By the end of November, he could have matched two more records. With two races left, he could reach Schumachers single-season record of 13 GP wins and Alberto Ascaris long-standing record of nine consecutive race wins, although they spanned two seasons in 1952-53. "I think it is hard to put these things into perspective," Vettel said. "But its incredible to have such a strong bunch of people who believe so strongly in what they are doing." Vettel started from second on the grid, but within seconds had overtaken Red Bull teammate Mark Webber and was unchallenged after that, beating Webber by 30.8 seconds over 55 laps, and finishing 33.6 clear of Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg. "The car was flawless, it doesnt happen that often that the car responds to everything you want," Vettel said. "I am looking forward to tonight, where there will be a few drinks." Although the German had already clinched his latest F1 title at the Indian GP last weekend, he wasnt stopping there. Vettel now has 37 career race wins and looked stunned when told he had just matched Schumachers run of seven wins in a row in one campaign. "Obviously, winning is very special," Vettel said. "Seven races in a row -- every single one is tough. I remember watching Formula One as a kid (when) Michael was dominating for Ferrari." Vettel can set a single-season record with eight straight at the United States Grand Prix in two weeks time. Then, victory at the season-ending Brazilian GP a week later will see him match Ascari. "People see seven races they dont see the challenge it takes every race to nail it," Vettel added. "We got everything right, pit stops, reliability. The numbers arent that important to me but equally they make me very, very proud." Moments after winning, Vettel jogged over to his waiting parents. "I have spent most of my life racing in front of them as a kid," Vettel said. "The cars are a bit bigger now, but I am so pleased they are here to see me." Just like last weekend, Vettel celebrated the win with a few screeching doughnuts on the Yas Marina circuit. He was fined last time, but is unlikely to care too muuch. Authentic Arian Foster Jersey. Webbers last win was at the British GP in July last year and the 37-year-old never looked like making it 10 career wins. The Australian has never been known for his pure speed and made a poor start, allowing Vettel and then Rosberg to pass him. "The start wasnt great and Nico got an unbelievable start," Webber said. "I would have liked the win, but I matched my best result here. There are plenty of Aussie fans here so thank you." Overall it was a good day for Mercedes in the battle with Ferrari for second place in the constructors championship. "Our aim for the weekend was to be best of the rest," Rosberg said. "I was very happy to hear that we took some more points from them." Red Bull has already won the constructors title with 513 points. Mercedes is next with 334 points to Ferraris 323. "The most important thing is to finish second in the constructors championship, not only financially but also motivationally for the team," Rosberg said. Force India driver Paul di Resta finished sixth ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Ferraris Felipe Massa. Qualifying and the race itself are held at twilight here, allowing the track to cool and the drivers to avoid the stifling daytime heat. Kimi Raikkonens day proved even more difficult with the Finn retiring on lap one with suspension damage. "The Caterham only touched a little bit the front wheel, but the angle was so bad it damaged my suspension," Raikkonen said. The 2007 world champion threatened not to race at all because Lotus has not paid his wages all year. Then he qualified fifth only to be demoted to the back of the grid after his car failed a post-qualifying inspection because of an illegal floor. As Vettel pulled away, Webber complained over race radio that his KERS power-boosting system was not working properly, costing him valuable seconds as Grosjean pressured him. Vettels lead was so commanding that he could take his first pit stop and still come out comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. With 10 laps to go, Alonso went off the track after nearly colliding with Vergnes Toro Rosso. Stewards investigated whether he stayed within the track limits but cleared the Spaniard after the race. Alonso has not won a race since the Spanish GP in May, but with Raikkonen out, he consolidated his second place in the drivers standings. However, when Alonso looks at the points -- Vettel has 347 to his 217 -- he will realize just how badly he was beaten this season, having failed to beat Vettel by just three points last year. ' ' ' |
