Flyers Notes: Power plays lead to two goals

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The Flyers' much-maligned power play finally got untracked and made a difference.

It scored one goal and keyed another in the Flyers' 3-2 win over the sad-sack New York Islanders Sunday at the mostly empty Nassau Coliseum.

The Flyers were in a 2-for-44 power-play funk when Andreas Nodl tied the score at 2-2 with 8 minutes, 26 seconds left. It was Nodl's seventh goal this season and first ever on the power play.

Matt Carle's first goal of the season gave the Flyers a 1-0 first-period lead and was scored three seconds after Blake Comeau's tripping penalty ended. Comeau wasn't back in the play when Carle, from the side of the net, banked a shot off the skate of goalie Dwayne Roloson and into the net.

So while the Flyers were officially 1 for 4 on the power play, they created a pair of goals with the extra man.

"We pretty much had two power-play goals, which was nice to see," center Danny Briere said. "We got a bounce on Matt Carle's goal. The whole game, I thought our power play was better at moving the puck, creating chances and getting some good quality shots. I don't think it's where we want it, but it's an improvement."

The Flyers' penalty kill also contributed, snuffing all four of the Isles' power plays.

The Flyers may make a decision Monday on whether to add goalie

Michael Leighton

to their roster.

Leighton, trying to return to the NHL after back surgery, finished his rehab with the AHL Phantoms Sunday, making 23 saves as the Phantoms dropped a 4-2 decision to Albany before 5,134 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

In his other rehab start, Leighton dropped a 3-2 decision to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday as he made 26 saves. After that game, he said his back felt fine.

Coach

Peter Laviolette

on the time-out he called after the Islanders tied it at 1 in the third period: "It was a wake-up call. I was mad. They should have been mad, too. They came out flat and let a team back in the game. I thought after the [Islanders'] second goal, we started to play our game again."

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead into the final period.

Said Laviolette: "It was one of those games that can put you to sleep - and we fell asleep."

But they woke up just in time, scoring two goals in the final 8:26 to erase a 2-1 deficit.

The Flyers are 14-0-1 when they take a lead into the third period.

Goalie

Sergei Bobrovsky

(28 saves) is third in the NHL with 14 wins. Bobrovsky appeared to be closing in on his first NHL shutout until the Isles scored 5:12 into the final period. . . . Defenseman

Andrej Meszaros

had two assists and was plus-1. He is tied for the team lead with

Sean O'Donnell

at plus-16 overall, which is second in the NHL. . . .

Chris Pronger

blocked five shots. . . .

Kimmo Timonen

played a game-high 24:47 and had a key blocked shot in the closing seconds.

- Sam Carchidi