Instant Replay: Blackhawks 4, Flyers 0

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CHICAGO -- Different year, same script.

The Flyers come to the Windy City and get blown out by the Blackhawks. Last year, it was 7-2 with Ray Emery in net.

This time it was a 4-0 embarrassment at United Center on Tuesday night as Steve Mason got roughed up once again. He’s given up four or more goals in three of his five starts.

Patrick Kane scored twice on the power play.

Chicago got a dominating performance from its third line of Brad Richards centering Brandon Saad and Bryan Bickell.

The Blackhawks did all their necessary damage within 2:06 of the first period, building a 3-0 lead while hammering the Flyers with 19 shots that first period.

Antti Raanta made his season debut for the Hawks after starter Corey Crawford re-aggravated an upper-body injury during the morning skate.

Excluding preseason, Raanta had not played a game since last April 12 against Nashville.

Yet the Flyers made life far too easy on him. Then again, they didn’t control the puck enough to test him, either.

Notable goals
The Blackhawks' struggling power play got its first power-play goal from Kane as part of a two-goals-in-32-seconds sequence early that gave Chicago a 2-0 lead.

A bad kneeing penalty from Michael Raffl set it up. Patrick Sharp’s shot from the high slot caromed off the back boards right to Kane for a shortside, right-post stuffer that Mason should have had covered. The goal forced coach Craig Berube to burn his timeout.

Goalie report
Raanta, who didn’t have much work in net last spring during the 'Hawks' deep playoff run, easily outshined Mason. Raanta had 32 saves.

Shots
The Flyers didn’t get one until 7:36 into play with Wayne Simmonds firing high from the left boards. The 'Hawks were outshooting the Flyers 14-2 at one point in the first period. Chicago had 43 shots in the game.

Saves
Raanta had two on Claude Giroux in the second period that could have got the Flyers going.

Streak
Jakub Voracek’s five-game point streak to begin the season ended.

Power play
The Flyers looked timid and indecisive during a critical first power play that carried 1:54 over to the second period. There were no point shots that created a play at the net. Chicago cleared the zone three times.

Penalty kill
That the Flyers allowed two power-play goals to a team that is in the bottom 10 in power-play efficiency is poor. Chicago was in a 1-for-12 slump and finished 2 for 4.

Scratches
Braydon Coburn (left foot) took warmups and it appeared he would play as the seventh defenseman. Something must have bothered him because he was a last-minute scratch. Vinny Lecavalier (left foot) and Jason Akeson (healthy) also did not dress.

Up next
The Flyers play back-to-back and meet the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night to close out this three-game road trip.

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