San Jose, Ca. - Sean Couturier struck first as the Philadelphia Flyers lead the San Jose Sharks 1-0 after an inspired first period from the visitors Tuesday night.
The center fired to Antti Niemi's right side with 42 seconds left on the power-play, firing a pass from Andrew Macdonald from close range. The goal was Couturier's 5th this season and his first in 11 games.
Philadelphia earned the man advantage when San Jose's James Sheppard was booked two minutes for interfering with Scott Laughton at 4:18.
Giroux passed to Simmonds near the crease seconds earlier, but the forward's chance went wide. San Jose cleared the puck seconds later before Jakub VOracek brought it back into the Sharks zone and tried again, also wide.
Logan Couture and Tommy Wingels had a 2-on-1 shorthanded chance on Steve Mason when the puck slipped from Flyers' possession, but Couture's back-hander ended up in Mason's glove.
Mason was largely unmolested in the first session, stopping 6-of-6 shots.
Matt Reid tried a one-timer for the Flyers at 12:30 when he came open to the front of the goal, but his quick shot was batted away by Niemi.
Wayne Simmonds tried again from the right side halfway through the session, taking a pass from Brayden Schenn in a sudden 3-on-2, but was gloved.
Niemi was busy in net for the Sharks, stopping 15-of-16 for San Jose.
Couturier and Brenden Dillon fought at 14:58. Dillon landed three punches on Couturier's head early, but the Flyers center responded with two of his own until officials broke them up. Both sat for five minutes.
Philadelphia (8-12-3) is in the midst of a 7 game losing streak, including two straight defeats in as many days to the New York Rangers.
San Jose (11-10-4) is hosting the fifth of a six-game home stand (1-4), their sole victory a 6-4 decision to Anaheim three days ago.
Vincent Lecavalier was listed out by the Flyers as a healthy scratch for the first time in his career.
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