NHL Scores: Flyers rally past Red Wings; Devils lose another shootout

Sean Couturier’s first career four-point game was the driving force behind the Philadelphia Flyers come from behind win in Detroit. Elsewhere, the New Jersey Devils are still getting crushed by the shootout.

by Adam Gretz

Dec 5, 2013, 12:50 PM UTC

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

For just the second time since 1988 the Philadelphia Flyers were able to win a game in Detroit, a stretch that has seen them post a 2-15-3 record over their past 20 games at Joe Louis Arena.

Their 6-3 come-from-behind win on Wednesday night was powered by the first four-point performance of Sean Couturier’s career and featured the Flyers scoring five consecutive goals, including four in the third period, after falling behind 3-1.

While the win in Detroit was a rare one for the Flyers, the loss has become something a little too common for Red Wings fans as their record on home ice for the season falls to 5-5-6 on home ice.

Elsewhere, the New Jersey Devils continued their season-long struggle with the shootout dropping a wild one to the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3. The Devils are now 0-5 in the shootout this season. The good news? They finally scored a goal in this one thanks to rookie Reid Boucher.

All the NHL Scores

Canadiens 4, Devils 3

Flyers 6, Red Wings 3

Flames 4, Coyotes 1

Five Questions

On Wednesday we asked you five burning questions about the days games. These are your cool, soothing answers.

1. How will the Detroit Red Wings do without Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg?

Well, it certainly started well as they jumped out to a 3-1 lead and then the bottom completely fell out from under them when they allowed five straight goals to a team that entered the night as one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. Not exactly a great start to life without their two best players.

2. Will the Flyers continue their winning ways?

They did, and it was their third line leading the way as they combined for nine points, including four from Couturier. Philadelphia is now 9-3-1 in their past 13 games and find themselves in a three-way tie with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils for the third playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.

3. Will P.K. Subban record a point for the Canadiens?

He did not. Montreal's 4-3 shootout win was just the 12th time this season he has been held without a point in a game for the Canadiens. He did play a big role in the game, however, committing a turnover that resulted in a go-ahead goal for the Devils late in the third period and then getting involved with Patrik Elias on Montreal's game-tying goal less than a minute later.

4. Will Radim Vrbata extend his point streak?

He did not. The Coyotes were on the wrong end of a 4-1 decision in Calgary, and Vrbata did not factor into the scoring on their only goal, ending what had been a five-game point streak. He now has 24 points in 26 games.

5. Will the Flames win in regulation?

They did. It was Calgary's first regulation win on home ice since they beat the Washington Capitals on Oct. 26, and just their second home win (the other being in a shootout over the Florida Panthers) in their past nine home games.

Impact Moment

The one play or moment from Wednesday that will be making headlines over the next couple of days.

It wasn't anything on the ice, but instead the New York Rangers giving Henrik Lundqvist a lot of money over the next seven years. There is no question that Lundqvist is currently one of the best in the league at his position, even if he has struggled a bit so far this season, but how will he hold up over the duration of that contract? Goalies are unpredictable beasts and long-term contracts at the position don't seem to have a very high success rate.

Stat of the Night

Not only are the New Jersey Devils 0-5 in shootouts this season, they've scored just one goal in such competitions. Reid Boucher's goal on Wednesday was their first of the season and "improved" their shootout success rate to 1-for-17 on the season. That's bad.