If only the Flyers could alter their schedule to play every game against the top teams in the NHL — all the ones better than them.
Imagine where the Flyers would be? They seem only capable of beating the best of the best and not the dregs of the NHL.
Wednesday night was no different on NBC “Rivalry Night,” as the Flyers topped the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1.
Ex-Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen made his first and most likely last appearance at Wells Fargo Center amid a stirring ovation during the first period.
The Flyers withstood a push from the Hawks in the third period and capped it off with a power-play goal from Michael Raffl when it was 3-1.
Notable goals
In the Flyers’ 36th home game of the season, Claude Giroux finally scored an even-strength goal. He did it on the rush off a nice feed from Jakub Voracek to make it 3-0 at 13:58 of the second period. Giroux’s last regular-season even-strength goal on home ice came last March 28 — almost a year ago — in Game 73 against Toronto.
A gimme
Andrew Shaw missed an open net by about 20 feet high and wide in the first period.
Goalie report
Steve Mason played well, especially when the Hawks made a strong push in the third period. During one sequence after they scored a power-play goal, Chicago had four attempted shots.
Power play
Both teams were 1 for 2. Michael Raffl, who is getting some power-play time at season’s end, scored his first such goal to make it 4-1 in the final four minutes.
Penalty kill
The Flyers gave up a power-play goal in the third period rather quickly — 14 seconds into it — from Duncan Keith’s slap shot to make it a 3-1 game.
Milestone
Wayne Simmonds' first-period goal was his 100th as a Flyer.
Fights
Pierre Edouard-Bellemare handled himself nicely against Dan Carcillo in the third period. Why Car Bomb didn’t take on a more fitting opponent, like Zac Rinaldo, earlier in the period remains a mystery. Or maybe not.
Injuries
Simmonds (left leg) and Andrew MacDonald (right hand). Simmonds was hit by a puck during a Flyers power-play shot from Mark Streit. MacDonald's injury was less obvious.
Scratches
Forwards R.J. Umberger (hip/abdominal surgery) and Vinny Lecavalier (healthy). Defenseman Luke Schenn (suspected groin pull).
Up next
The Flyers have two days between games before hosting the San Jose Sharks on Saturday afternoon.