BOX SCORE
TORONTO -- Talk about coincidental misfortunes in goal.
The Flyers lost starting goalie Ilya Bryzgalov because of an injury during warmups earlier this week off an errant shot.
The same thing happened to the Maple Leafs during warmups Thursday night at Air Canada Centre.
So instead of facing veteran goalie Jonas Gustavsson, the Flyers roughed up Finnish rookie Jussi Rynnas during a 7-1 blowoutthe 11th straight home loss for the Leafs.
The game marked Rynnas' first NHL start.
Coupled with yet another Pittsburgh loss to the Islanders, the Flyers drew to within two points of the fourth-seeded Penguins, who have 100 points.
NHL
Sergei Bobrovsky made his first start since March 11 and played well, while facing just 17 shots.
For the umpteenth time this season, it was the rookies who carried the Flyers scoring load, in this case, four goals.
With older brother Luke playing for the Leafs, who wont be going to the playoffs once again, Flyers rookie Brayden gave his family a bit of a show with two goals in the first period.
Peter Laviolettes club made it a rout with two more in the second stanza.
Schenn's two markers gave him 11 for the season. Thats 10 Flyers with double-figure goals this season.
His first goal was odd as a blocked shot saw the puck go high in the air. It fell at Schenns feet before anyone else knew it. He quickly rifled it past Rynnas.
Thanks to a double-minor to Jay Rosehill, the Flyers got a four-minute power play and Schenn capitalized again at 11:01.
This time, it was Jaromir Jagr springing Danny Briere into the Leafs zone on a 2-on-1 with Briere waiting to the last instant before giving it to Schenn an easy tap-in, making it 2-0.
Three minutes later, however, on just their third shot, Tim Connolly gave Mikhail Grabovski a stretch pass just beyond the reach of Sean Couturier. The Russian got it in full stride for a breakaway backhander.
Wayne Simmonds, who broke a 16-game goal drought against Tampa Bay, picked up his second in as many games at 3:58 of the season period with both teams skating 4-on-4.
He had two goals in the game, giving him 25 for the season.
And if youre going to win the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, it helps to play well in front of the Toronto mediaarguably the most influential voters around.
Matt Read did just that with a shorthanded goal that period to reclaim the rookie lead over Colorados Gabriel Landeskog (22 goals).
It was also Reads second shorthanded marker this season, tying him with Couturier and the Rangers Carl Hagelin for second place among first-year players.
In the third period, rookie Eric Wellwood scored his fifth goal before Jakub Voracek notched his 15th, making it 6-1.
Gustavsson severely injured his left knee after being struck with a shot from teammate Clark MacArthur.
Rynnas played 39 minutes in relief on Tuesday in making his NHL debut against Carolina.
Loose pucks
Defenseman Andreas Lilja, who took practice at the morning skate, did not play. He has missed three games with an upper body injury.
(more coming...)
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpantoch@comcast.net