[Phils20]

Lupul Leads Flyers With Two Goals in Win


The Associated Press

Joffrey Lupul scored two goals and Marty Biron made 34 saves for the Philadelphia Flyers, who snapped a season-high, six-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 on Thursday night.

Jeff Carter and Danny Briere also scored, and Randy Jones had two assists as the Flyers won for only the second time in 11 home games after opening the season 6-0 in Philadelphia.

Mike Richards earned an assist on Lupul's second goal to stretch his point streak at home to 16 games, tying a team record set by Bobby Clarke in the 1975-76 season.

Mats Sundin scored for the Maple Leafs, who dropped their second straight game and fifth in six.

Andrew Raycroft, making his second start in two games in place of Vesa Toskala who is nursing a groin injury, stopped 30 shots. Toronto went 2-3-2 on its seven-game road trip. The Maple Leafs return home to face the New York Rangers on Saturday night, playing their first game in Toronto since Dec. 10.

Carter scored from the goal mouth with 35 seconds left in the first period after taking a pass from the left boards from Scott Hartnell, who picked up the puck deep in the Flyers zone and skated down the left side.

Lupul made it 2-0 on a power play at 17:23 of the second period. He got to a loose puck, after Danny Briere's centering pass deflected off Toronto center Alex Steen, and swept it past Raycroft's glove side.

Sundin converted a one-timer from beyond the left circle with 26.4 seconds left in the period, but Briere restored Philadelphia's two-goal advantage by tipping in a shot by Jason Smith 3:05 into the third period.

Lupul scored again on a wrist shot from the left circle at 7:56.

[blueandwhite]

This was a sad road trip, and one I am sure they will be happy to come home from.
Yuck.
here's to the new year and a new beginning (too bad it's with the old team).

[Phils20]

I saw that. After a fast start, the Flyers were on a 6 game slide before that.

But on the bright side, we haven't had anyone suspended for a while! I hope that trend continues, and the team plays a smart, clean game in 2008! And I hope they win some too!