National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Carolina 3, Philadelphia 1
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 9, 2015
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Referees: Ian Walsh, Garrett Rank
Linesmen: Michel Cormier, Scott Cherrey
Attendance: 17348

PHILADELPHIA -- Defensemen Brett Bellemore and Ryan Murphy each scored a goal, and goaltender Cam Ward stopped 27 of 28 shots to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.

Bellemore recorded his second goal of the season, while Murphy posted his fourth. Hurricanes center Jordan Staal added his sixth of the season, into an empty net, to seal the win.

Flyers goaltender Ray Emery made 24 saves in the loss. He was in net for the first time since taking a loss to the Hurricanes in Carolina on April 4.

Philadelphia center Sean Couturier scored his 15th goal of the season.

The Hurricanes got on the board 12:48 into the first period when Jordan Staal carried the puck across the Flyers' blue line and quickly dropped it to his older brother, center Eric Staal, at the point. Eric Staal's shot was deftly deflected by Bellemore as he fell to the ice, the puck sneaking just inside the far post and past Emery for a 1-0 lead.

Philadelphia almost tied the game in the opening seconds of the second period, but Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto's shot from the point was deflected in front of the net and hit the post.

Del Zotto found himself in the penalty box midway through the period, serving a double minor for high sticking. During the resulting Carolina power play, Murphy took a pass from defenseman John-Michael Liles and one-timed a shot past Emery for a 2-0 lead.

The Flyers finally got on the board with 3:41 remaining in the third period. Philadelphia center Claude Giroux fed the puck to defenseman Mark Streit at the point. Streit's slap shot was deflected by Couturier in front of the net past Ward to cut the Flyers' deficit to 2-1.

Jordan Staal ended all doubt by scoring with 39 seconds remaining.

Philadelphia concludes its season Saturday afternoon at home against the Ottawa Senators, while Carolina wraps up its campaign with a Saturday home game against the Detroit Red Wings.

NOTES: The Hurricanes reassigned D Danny Biega to their AHL Charlotte affiliate and recalled D Keegan Lowe. Lowe's father, Kevin, won five Stanley Cup rings with the Oilers and one with the Rangers. ... Philadelphia RW Wayne Simmonds, C R.J. Umberger, D Luke Schenn and D Andrew McDonald were out. ... Carolina scratched C Riley Nash, D Jack Hillen, D Michal Jordan and D Rasmus Rissanen. ... The game was the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The first three games were won by the home team -- a 5-1 Flyers win on Dec. 13, and a 2-1 win on Jan. 2 and 4-1 victory on Feb. 24 by the Hurricanes.
Top Game Performances
 
Carolina   Philadelphia
Jordan Staal 2 Points Sean Couturier 1
Jordan Staal 1 Goals Sean Couturier 1
Jordan Staal 1 Assists Claude Giroux 1
Ryan Murphy 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Cam Ward .964 Save Percentage Ray Emery .923
Cam Ward 27 Saves Ray Emery 24
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Carolina 27 3 1-6 2-2 19 34
Philadelphia 28 1 0-2 5-6 37 31
Upcoming Games
  • Philadelphia will play their next game at home against Ottawa. The Flyers have a W/L % of .394 after a win and .417 after a loss.
  • Carolina will play their next game at home against Detroit. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .345 after a win and .385 after a loss.