Flyers Bounce Back

It's always tough to rebound from a tough loss, especially from one that you know you let slip away. But that's just what the Flyers did last night as they went into Florida, took care of business, and got a much needed 3-2 victory over the Panthers. After a rough first period, the Flyers trailed 2-1, and it looked as if they were going to drop their second straight. But the Flyers responded well in the 2nd period thanks to the strong play of Jeff Carter. Early in the 2nd, Carter found a rebound in the slot, and wristed a shot just past the outstretched glove of Panthers' goalie Tomas Vokoun. Carter's first goal of the night tied the game at 2. It was Jeff Carter again who scored making it a 3-2 game late in the 2nd period after a Peter Laviolette timeout. Danny Briere got the puck straight from the face off and skated past 2 Panthers defenders all the way down the ice where he made an unbelievable back hand pass to Jeff Carter who banged it home. It was the highlight of the night and it all happened in a matter of seconds as Danny Briere showed his ability to make plays even at a high speed. The Flyers had an overall strong 2nd period after a mediocre first. In the 3rd the Flyers played strong and got solid defense as they attempted to hold off Florida. The Panthers definitely got their share of opportunities, but goalie Brian Boucher shut the door behind strong defensive play. The Flyers made a crucial penalty kill after a double minor called against JVR for high sticking. The Flyers played extremely well in the closing 5 minutes and were able to secure an all important 3-2 win. The win not only gets the Flyers back on track, but it also keeps them in first place in both the Eastern conference and the Atlantic division standings. On a night when both Pittsburgh and Washington won, this was a big statement win for the Flyers who are still in first place. The Flyers will look to build on this win as they travel to Atlanta tomorrow night to avenge the Thrashers.