Everything seems to go right for the New York Rangers when they play the Flyers, even their anemic power play.
Ryan Callahan scored three goals and the Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Marian Gaborik and Artem Anisimov also had goals for the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers, who broke out of their power-play funk and improved to 5-0 against the Flyers this season - including a win in the Winter Classic.
It was a rare display on special teams that catapulted the Rangers to their second victory over Philadelphia in seven days. New York had a season-high three goals on the power play.
New York increased its lead to six points over the Flyers in the Atlantic Division and have two games in hand.
“I was a little disappointed with the effort, actually,” Philadelphia defenseman Kimmo Timonen said. “The emotional level, top team in the conference, league. It was a big game for us, and I was expecting more.”
Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds had Philadelphia's goals. The Flyers have lost four of five, and are losing their hold on fourth place in the East.
Henrik Lundqvist had 31 saves in another outstanding effort against a team that can't seem to beat him. The Flyers' top line of Giroux, Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell have combined for two goals against Lundqvist this season.
“You need some luck. They are a good team,” Lundqvist said.
The crowd at Madison Square Garden chanted “You can't beat us” at the Flyers during New York's 5-2 victory last Sunday. Some of the brave, blue-shirted fans who made the trip down I-95 threw caps on the ice to celebrate Callahan's second NHL hat trick after he scored to make it 5-2 in the third period.
Callahan gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead midway through the second period when he tipped Michael Del Zotto's pass past goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Flyers had tied it 2:39 earlier when Giroux scored on a breakaway. Lundqvist made a glove save on Giroux's initial shot, but the All-Star forward poked the rebound in for his 22nd goal.
A giveaway behind the net helped the Rangers extend their lead to 4-2 in the third period. Anisimov redirected a pass from Derek Stepan past Bobrovsky to give New York its first two-goal cushion.
Less than four minutes after the Flyers tied it at 1 in the first, Gaborik scored to put the Rangers ahead again. Gaborik redirected Brad Richards' crossing pass over Bobrovsky's shoulder for his 27th goal.
Philadelphia's Tom Sestito, who got in three fights in last Sunday's loss, drew a double minor and a misconduct penalty for a scrum with Stu Bickel in the first period.
The Rangers quickly took advantage on the ensuing power play. Gaborik set up New York's tally with a crisp pass to Callahan, who took a shot from the side of the net that bounced off Bobrovsky and went in.
The Flyers answered when Andrej Meszaros' slap shot hit Simmonds and went past Lundqvist. Just before Philadelphia's rush, Zac Rinaldo delivered a crushing check on Derek Stepan at the opposite end of the ice.
Bobrovsky made an outstanding save early to prevent the Flyers from falling behind. He slid across the crease from right to left and blocked Gaborik's one-timer during a 2-on-1 break.
Gaborik made up for it later.
Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere. Follow Hurricane Schwartz on Twitter, the NBC10 Earthwatch on Facebook and on our mobile site. Sign up for our weather newsletter. And, get weather forecasts delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIWEATHER to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
