Flyers fall flat in 2-0 loss to Oilers

February 24, 2012

Head coach Peter Laviolette was furious after Thursday night's loss to the Oilers.

"You like to think it serves as a wake up call, because we're in a playoff race," said Laviolette. "And tonight is unacceptable.

"We eased are way into the first period, the second period was horses---. You wake up and try to win a game in the third period it's... Hopefully it's a wake up call."

The Flyers were shutout by Edmonton.

Oiler's goaltender Devan Dubnyk saved all 35 of the Flyer's shots for his first shutout of the year.

Iyla Bryzgalov saved 28 of 30 shots by Edmonton, allowing goals to Taylor Hall (22, 3:26) and Jordan Eberle (27, 8:04) in the second period.

In the third period, Edmonton's Shawn Horcoff was awarded a penalty shot after Kimmo Timonen hooked him to stop a short-handed breakaway.

Bryzgalov, who has struggled in shootout scenarios all season, managed to stop Horcoff on the penalty shot.

During the second period, Scott Hartnell was sent to the box for a hit on Magnus Paajarvi that injured Paajarvi's knee. Hartnell was called for kneeing.

According to CSNPHilly.com's Tim Panaccio, the NHL reviewed Hartnell's hit for a possible suspension, but decided that they will not discipline him for the hit.

Hartnell admitted that the hit was unintentional.

"I was just finishing my check," Hartnell said. "It was the end of a long shift, and part of my game is being physical. Hopefully he is all right.

"I don't really know what happened to him. But it wasn't my intent to injure."

The loss ties the Flyers with the Pittsburgh Penguins for fifth in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have 73 points.

The Flyers will be looking for that wakeup call on Saturday, when they make their third stop in Canada to play the Calgary Flames.

Box Score
http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400047386