The Associated Press
Mike Cranston
PHILADELPHIA–On a night that belonged to Eric Lindros, the Philadelphia Flyers paid tribute to the Hall-of-Fame centre with a gritty comeback.
Sean Couturier scored 18 seconds into overtime as the Flyers rallied from a two-goal deficit to edge the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 last night after retiring Lindros’ No. 88 jersey.
“A huge comeback win on a special night,” said rookie Nolan Patrick, who scored his first goal in 25 games.
Couturier continued his hot streak with his eighth goal in six games.
He took a feed from Travis Konecny and beat Frederik Andersen with a wrist shot.
Couturier’s 26th goal and 46th point in his already career-best season lifted the Flyers to their fifth win in six games.
“‘Coots’ is playing on another level right now,” said Flyers’ defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere.
“We’re trying to match it. He’s definitely carrying us.”
Patrick and Wayne Simmonds scored early in the third period for the Flyers.
Michal Neuvirth stopped 29 shots in just his second start since Nov. 28, including a sprawling pad save on Patrick Marleau with 2:48 left in regulation.
“Three at least 10-bell saves by ‘Neuvy,'” Flyers’ coach Dave Hakstol said of his back-up goalie.
“I don’t think that’s lost on anybody in the building and certainly in the dressing room,” Hakstol added.
“He was tremendous.”
Fourth-liners Connor Brown and Frederik Gauthier scored 28 seconds apart in the second period for Toronto in its season-high fourth-straight loss.
Andersen made 34 saves.
Toronto, in a 2-3-4 stretch, last won in regulation on Dec. 28 at Arizona, and Andersen let his teammates have it.
“I don’t think we’re tired. I think it’s a lack of effort at certain points,” he said.
“It’s something that can’t happen,” Andersen stressed. “If we want to play any meaningful hockey later, we need to figure it out.”
Patrick ended Philadelphia’s streak of seven unanswered goals allowed with an unassisted tally 2:07 into the third.
It was the third of the season for the 19-year-old forward, the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft.
The Flyers tied it just over a minute later with only their second short-handed goal of the season, with Simmonds picking up his 16th goal with Jori Lehtera in the box.
Toronto dominated the second period. Brown scored on a breakaway at 12:57 after Gostisbehere’s giveaway in the neutral zone.
The 22-year-old Gauthier then made it 2-0 with his first goal of the season and third for his career.
“We can’t let the lead go every time we are up by one or two goals,” Gauthier stressed.
“There’s something to learn here.”
The Flyers had more energy late on an emotional night for the franchise.
The big and skilful Lindros, who grew up watching the hometown Maple Leafs in Ontario, spent eight seasons with the Flyers.
He won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1995 and helped Philadelphia reach the Stanley Cup Final two years later.
Back on good terms with the organization after an ugly 2001 departure, Lindros received several standing ovations before his number was hoisted to the rafters in a ceremony that delayed the start by an hour.
Lindros attended the Flyers’ practice Wednesday and the morning skate before the game, spending time with veterans Simmonds and Jakub Voracek and marvelling about how the game has evolved.
“Those guys are just machines,” Lindros said. “They’re built for speed.
“The hands and skill level of today’s player is far greater than even five years ago.”
As Lindros watched from a suite, the Flyers improved to just 3-8 in overtime.
Elsewhere in the NHL, St. Louis beat Ottawa 4-1, New Jersey edged Washington 4-3 (OT), Columbus nipped Dallas 2-1 (SO), Boston downed the N.Y. Islanders 5-2, the N.Y. Rangers shaded Buffalo 4-3, and Vegas upended Tampa Bay 4-1.
Nashville nipped Arizona 3-2 (SO), Colorado beat San Jose 5-3, and Pittsburgh downed L.A. 3-1.
