Flyers end skid by blanking Rangers, 4-0

PHILADELPHIA _ After being outscored, 4-0, in the first period during Wednesday's 5-2 loss at Buffalo, the Flyers understood they couldn't sleepwalk through another opening period.

So in a Black Friday matinee, the Flyers came out with plenty of energy, setting the tone for a 4-0 win over the New York Rangers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Cal Pickard earned the shutout with 31 saves, his best coming with 5 minutes and 56 seconds left when he stopped Lias Andersson, who was alone in front of the net.

The Flyers led, 1-0, after the first period, outshooting what had been a hot Rangers team, 15-8. New York entered the game 9-1-1 since Oct. 30, including a three-game win streak.

Before Friday, the Flyers had allowed the first goal in their previous four games and were 0-3-1 in that span.

That streak ended when Travis Konecny opened the scoring with 6:39 left in the first period. From the top of the right circle, Konecny sent a wrist shot that a sliding Henrik Lundqvist saved, but the puck deflected behind him and hit off defenseman Brady Skjei and into the goal. It was Konecny's sixth goal of the season and fourth in his last seven games.

The play started when Claude Giroux hit Sean Couturier, who sent a pass cross ice to Konecny, who sent the puck on goal. With the assist, Giroux moved into No. 2 on the Flyers' career list with 481. Giroux still has a long way to catch No. 1 Bobby Clarke, who had 852 assists.

The Flyers had their first fight of the season Wednesday, and the second came in the second period when Konecny and Ryan Strome squared off. Neither appeared to do much damage.

The Flyers put constant pressure on Lundqvist, who made several kick saves, including stopping Couturier from point-blank range late in the second period. Near the midway point of the third period, he stopped a Wayne Simmonds rebound.

The Flyers made it 2-0 on a crisp passing play from Giroux to Konecny to Couturier, who one-timed it in for his ninth goal with 5:21 left. It also gave Konecny the Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist and fight).

Jordan Weal made it 3-0 with an empty-netter with 2:02 remaining. Couturier then beat Lundqvist with 1:37 left, with Giroux and Konecny earning the assists.