Road Trip Finishes With Whimper In Philly

The Maple Leafs met the Philadelphia Flyers for the first time this season last night at the Wachovia Centre in the final game of their season long seven game road trip. Looking to salvage a third win on this trip after several wasted opportunities for points earlier in their road sojourn, the Maple Leafs were strong in the opening period until giving up a goal with thirty five seconds remaining.

Carlo Colaiacovo – making his return to the Maple Leaf lineup for the first time since their final game of the 2006 – 2007 season – and Pavel Kubina failed to get back into position after rushing back to cover up in their own zone allowing Jeff Carter to jam a centering pass behind Andrew Raycroft.

The Flyers grew their lead to two goals late in the second period when Joffrey Lupul scored his fourteenth goal of the season but Mats Sundin would pull the Maple Leafs back to within one goal when he netted a power play goal with only twenty seven seconds left in the second period.

In the final frame, the Flyers came out strongly scoring just over three minutes in on a goal by Daniel Briere to restore the Flyers’ two goal lead. Just less than five minutes later, Joffrey Lupul scored his second goal of the game to put the Flyers ahead by three goals virtually ending the Maple Leafs’ hopes of salvaging any points out of this game.

After this disappointing effort against the Flyers, the Maple Leafs will head home to take on the New York Rangers on Saturday night.