PHILADELPHIA _ Joey Anderson scored the first goal of his NHL career in the first period and the Devils made it stand up until Kyle Palmieri gave them some breathing room in 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Arena. Keith Kinkaid pitched his third shutout of the season and the seventh of his career to earn his seventh career win over the Flyers.
Sami Vatanen had a key hit for the Devils, but a hit on him knocked New Jersey's best defenseman out of the game.
Vatanen was injured in the first period after hitting the boards in the offensive zone. The defenseman wouldn't put weight on his left leg, skating off with help and going down the tunnel hopping on his right. He did not return and the Devils did not provide an update.
It was a much-improved performance for the Devils, who have now won two in a row after losing three straight on the road, and the emergence of Anderson is coming at exactly the right time. But there's never a good time to lose a top-pairing defenseman, especially one who chews minutes and plays in all situations like Vatanen.
Anderson scored 3:45 into play with the help of Vatanen. Philadelphia's speedy Nolan Patrick was attempting to carry the puck up the ice and into the offensive zone when Vatanen leveled him in the neutral zone. With the puck in open ice, Blake Coleman started a pretty passing sequence. Brett Seney fed Anderson in the high slot, who fired a laser past Brian Elliott for his first NHL score.
The Flyers appeared to tie the game at 8:46 in the same period with a power play goal by Shayne Gostisbehere but the goal was disallowed with James van Riemsdyk making contact with Kinkaid prior to the score. Flyers coach Dave Hakstol challenged the call but after a quick review the call on the ice was confirmed and the score remained 1-0.
Palmieri scored his 11th goal of the season with 6:08 left in regulation. Flyers' goaltender Brian Elliott was injured on the play and left the game, giving way to Calvin Pickard.
Blake Coleman scored an empty-net goal with 3:02 left to play to push the game out of reach for the home team.
Kinkaid had some assistance from the goal itself in the first period when the Flyers hit the post four times, including twice on one late power play. Oskar Lindblom hit it once in the third period, just for good measure.
Kinkaid also got some help from Ben Lovejoy late in the period, when him and the defenseman both slid into a wide open crease as the puck deflected off their sticks to keep the shutout intact.
Kinkaid made 29 saves.
