Skinner pivotal in Hurricanes 2-1 win over Flyers

Chris Baird - TSN via Baird Photography
Chris Baird - TSN via Baird Photography
Chris Baird – TSN via Baird Photography

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes held on to record their first win of the season, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in front of a crowd of 16,088 in attendance at PNC Arena on Sunday.

Forward Jeff Skinner assisted on both goals from Jay Harrison and Radek Dvorak while goaltender Anton Khudobin stopped 17 shots to record his first regular-season win with Carolina.

No strangers to one another, the two teams met for the first of four games to be played this season as members of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) new Metropolitan Division.

Coming into the game, the Flyers had won 15 of the last 17 games played against the Hurricanes and 10 of the last 11 played in Raleigh.

However, the Hurricanes took advantage of a day’s preparation after suffering a 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings to prevent a similar lapse against Philadelphia.

“It was the same type of effort tonight,” Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said.

“Like we said, if we put the same ingredients that we did the other night and do it tonight, and do it consistently, we’d get rewarded differently. The guys came ready to battle tonight, worked hard, and played the game the right way. We got good goaltending again, D were good, forwards worked hard, and the end result was a nice victory.”

The Hurricanes’ top line of Eric Staal, Alexander Semin, and Jiri Tlusty got the first shot of game on Flyers netminder Steve Mason who faced 34 shots from the Hurricanes all game.

From there, all four of Carolina’s lines saw ice time that helped to earn a hard-fought victory over a hard-hitting Philadelphia team that played its second game in as many days.

Skinner led all skaters with 5 shots on goal, but in particular it was his tenacious and effective forechecking that made the difference in creating Carolina’s scoring plays during the game.

Harrison scored his first goal of the season with a snap shot from the point that found its way through Mason’s pads and put the Hurricanes ahead 1-0 at the 8:11 mark of the first period.

The play originated from the corner as Skinner passed the puck to the point where Harrison stood before he directed it to blue line partner Ryan Murphy on the right side.

Murphy quickly gave a return pass back to Harrison on the blue line to set up the goal.

Both Murphy and Skinner recorded their first point of the season, with the helper being Murphy’s first-ever NHL point tallied.

Skinner’s line which included Riley Nash and Radek Dvorak kept the Flyers defense busy and continued to create scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Even as Philadelphia evened the score 1-1 at 3:01 in the second period on a shot from defenseman Luke Schenn that beat Khudobin high to the glove side, it was Dvorak who helped Carolina regain the lead.

Five minutes after the Flyers tied the game, Skinner pressured Schenn behind his net to hurry a pass that deflected off Skinner’s skate and found its way onto Dvorak’s stick.

The veteran winger then buried a quick wrist shot over Mason’s blocker-side shoulder to score his second goal of the season and eventual game-winner as the Hurricanes went ahead 2-1, and held on to eventually record their first win of the season.

“The chemisty of their line is great right now,” Muller said.

“They’re workin’ both ends of the ice. It’s amazing. They’re gettin’ the puck more, they’re gettin’ more chances and opportunities together.”

Muller made a point of expressing his pleasure with Skinner’s effort throughout the game.

“I’m really pleased with his (Skinner) game tonight.”

“He was more tenacious on the puck, he created more and he worked hard without the puck. That’s the type of game we want from him.”