Flyers Snap Skid, Beating Rival Rangers

Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek scored to help the Philadelphia Flyers win their first game of the season, 2-1 over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

The Flyers not only avoided their first 0-4 start in team history, they beat the Rangers for the first time in two seasons. The Rangers defeated the Flyers all six games last season, including a win in the Winter Classic.

Both teams are last in the Atlantic Division at 1-3.

The Flyers needed the good news after they learned All-Star forward Scott Hartnell is expected to miss four to eight weeks because of a broken left foot.

Forward Brayden Schenn also served a one-game suspension for charging New Jersey defenseman Anton Volchenkov. Philadelphia also played without forward Danny Briere (broken left wrist).

But the Flyers had enough to beat Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers. Taylor Pyatt scored his third of the season for New York.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)