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Wrap: Flyers Punish Capitals, 8-2; Phantoms Nip WB/S Pens, 3-2 |
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WRAPUP: FLYERS PUNISH CAPITALS, 8-2
The Philadelphia Flyers could scarcely have hoped for a better way to start a five-game homestand. Playing their home opener in front of a raucous Wells Fargo Center crowd of 19,817 fans, the Flyers shredded the two-time defending President's Trophy winning Washington Capitals on Saturday night.
As they have done for lengthy segments of all five games to date, the Flyers outskated their opponent for lengthy stretches of the game. Although not entirely spotless in their play without the puck, Philly did an overall excellent job of dictating the play on the forecheck and created chances to attack with speed.
"We came off a road trip and I thought that was one of the things that was starting to fall into place was an identity and I thought we played to that in all four of the road games and we tried to do that again here in our home opener," Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said.
A rested Flyers team, off for the last three nights, caught the Caps in the final game of a 3-in-4 and back-to-back. Washington was also a bit short on the blueline, with top pairing defenseman Matt Niskanen having to be placed on long-term injured reserve after an apparent hand injury on Friday and rookie Madison Bowey called up from the AHL's Hershey Bears.
The Flyers did exactly what they needed to do. They took full advantage. Philly got contributions from up and down the lineup.
"That's the bottom line," Hakstol said. "We had great energy from this crowd tonight. We’re playing a team that’s on the back end of three-in-four, which we were there about a week ago and three-in-four on the second night of a back- to-back. You actually have to try to find a way to play at a pace where can find a way to take advantage of that and I thought that over the long haul, 60 minutes we were able to do that.”
Jakub Voracek (three assists, and a hit crossbar on a 2-on-1 rush) shredded Capitals defenders repeatedly. Linemates Sean Couturier (two goals, one assist) and Claude Giroux (two goals, two assists) reaped the benefits during the night as did Wayne Simmonds (one goal, one assist) on a power play goal set up by Voracek. Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere collected three apples of his own.
"Since the start of the year, we have been getting a lot of chances every night. We have been scoring a little bit. Tonight we shot the puck a little more. Obviously, it’s nice to get those goals," Couturier said.
Voracek has already racked up nine assists through the first five games in the season. In the meantime, over Couturier's last 24 games dating back to scoring a goal against the Capitals on March 4 of the 2016-17 season, he has 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists). Giroux has seven points on the young 2017-18 season.
"Our Ds are moving the puck quick. When they do that we have a little more time with the puck. The whole team played great tonight," Giroux said.
The Flyers also got a big night from fourth-line center Scott Laughton (shorthanded and even strength goals). His shorthanded tally late in the first period sent the Flyers to the locker room with a 2-1 lead and they steamrolled the Caps from there.
"It feels good to get on the board and contribute. It feels really good to get a win like that. Especially in the home opener with a sold out crowd like that. It is really big for our group but at the same time we got to have a good home stretch here and keep going," Laughton said.
"We try to [establish a hard forechecking and speed-oriented game] with every team. I think we have four lines that can play and six D that can keep rolling. I am just trying to use our speed. Our forechecking has been a big strength of ours in the first five games. We have to continue to deliver. It just can’t be at the start of the year we have to continue to build.”
Playing the 800th regular season game of his NHL career, second-line center Valtteri Filppula notched his third goal in the last two games. The Flyers got single assist contributions from Jordan Weal, Ivan Provorov and Brandon Manning to round out the scoresheet in the home opener.
Coming off a rough outing in Nashville on Tuesday, Brian Elliott bounced back with a solid game against the Capitals. He didn't have to be spectacular but made a few timely stops and did a better job at melting down plays when his team needed it. He finished with 21 saves on 23 shots to earn his third win of the season and first at home.
"Even starting from the warm ups, it got the juices going and the music was pumping. It’s awesome, that atmosphere. This is my first time in a regular season game here, on the home side. I think the guys really got a boost from it," Elliott said.
"Laughton scoring that shorthanded goal to go up 2-1, was a huge goal for us, it gave us a lot of confidence. When guys like that step up for you and score huge goals like that, it’s a good sign for our team."
The Flyers managed to hold the scorching hot Alex Ovechkin (nine goals and 10 points entering this game) off the score sheet. Ovechkin finished at minus-four on the game with six shots on goal in 10 attempts (three were blocked, one missed the net). A few other Caps that were off to outstanding starts -- Nicklas Bäckström (one goal), Evgeny Kuznetsov (one assist, minus-four) and T.J. Oshie (one assist, one shot on goal) -- were also reasonably contained. Jakub Vrana collected his second goal of the season for Washington.
With Vezina Trophy contending workhorse starter Braden Holtby having played two of three previous nights, including Friday in Newark, Washington head coach Barry Trotz tabbed backup Philipp Grubauer for a start. He got strafed, stopping just 29 of 37 shots with his net frequently under siege. Grubauer's gaffe on the Laughton shorthanded goal was also a factor in the game subsequently getting out of hand.
The Flyers had one lineup change from the last several games: rookie Travis Sanheim was a healthy scratch for the first time since he sat out on opening night and Brandon Manning re-entered the lineup.
Philly came out attacking right off the hop. The Flyers quickly got in to pressure the puck in all three zones. Before long, it paid off.
After a great lead pass from Giroux, Voracek gained zone with speed, Couturier goes to net for the feed. Stopped on first effort, but scored on his second at 7:18 for a 1-0 lead. Voracek and Giroux got the assists on Couturier's second goal of the season.
The Caps got the goal back at 9:25. Giroux won a defensive circle faceoff but the Flyers turned the puck over up the wall on an attempted pass from Andrew MacDonald to Voracek. Both Voracek and Giroux ended up as spectators as deadly playmaker Evgeny Kuznetsov moved in. Vrana got open in front to take a pass from Kuznetov and tuck it home from the doorstep.The secondary assist went to John Carlson.
At 9:59, Washington went on its first power play as Manning was called for a defensive zone slash to the glove of Andre Burakovsky. On the ensuing power play, Elliott made an early glove save on an Ovechkin wrist shot from the top of the right circle.
The Flyers went to their first power play at 16:06. Voracek took the puck hard to the net and was slashed by Carlson to break up a scoring chance. Fifty nine seconds into the advantage (17:05), the Flyers were caught with six skaters on the ice as Jordan Weal jumped on too early. Philly was penalized for too many men.
Laughton used a burst of speed to pursue a loose puck after a zone clear by the Philadelphia penalty killers as Grubauer came way out of his net to play it. Realizing his was in trouble, Grubauer sprawled out to try play in past the Flyer but Laughton stole the puck. From there, he simply skated in and deposited the puck in the vacated cage for his first goal of the season. Time of the unassisted shorthanded goal was 18:58.
First period shots were 13-9 in the Flyers' favor.
The Flyers got their 2nd power play courtesy of another Carlson slashing minor in his own zone at 2:42. Philly cashed in quickly.
Off a neutral zone faceoff win, Voracek gained the zone and turnstiled Bowey (who lost his stick in the process) and cut in to set up Simmonds for a power play goal from the right slot at 3:15. The assists on Simmonds' fifth goal of the season (third power play tally) went to Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere as the Flyers took a 3-1 lead.
The Flyers extended the lead to 4-1 at 10:32. Voracek deked a Cap out of his skates to set up an initial scoring chance. The Flyers retained possession. From the left circle, Couturier put the puck at the net and Giroux re-directed in home for his second goal of the season.
Washington got the goal right back at 10:45. The Caps won the ensuing center ice faceoff and Brooks Orpik hit T.J. Oshie with a stretch pass that caught Manning napping a bit and then caught out of the play on partner Radko Gudas' side. In went the Caps and Oshie set up Bäckström, who quickly buried a point-blank shot past Elliott for his third goal of the season to make it a 4-2 score.
The Caps gained a burst of energy from the quick strike, hemming the Flyers in deep. Elliott had to make a tough save on Oshie and then a point shot save through traffic for a stoppage.
Giroux collected a Caps giveaway in the slot and set up a scoring chance for Couturier near the net as time neared the 16-minute mark. Grubauer kept the puck out and a scramble ensued before Washington cleared the puck away.
Washington wasn't so fortunate the next time around. The Flyers forechecked hard and worked the puck around standstill Caps players at will with quick passes. Finally, Weal found Filppula going to the net and the Finn chipped it home from the right slot for his third goal of the season (1st even strength goal) at 17:05. The assists went to Weal and Simmonds as the Flyers built a 5-2 lead.
The Laughton line, especially Raffl, had an outstanding shift on the forecheck. Washington could do little to stop their speed and forechecking pressure.
Late in the period, the Nolan Patrick line got hemmed in but kept everything to the perimeter. Robert Hägg did yeoman work behind the net and then boxing out a man in front to allow Elliott a clear look at a point shot. A routine save followed.
Second period shots were 11-7 in the Flyers' favor; 24-6 Flyers overall.
Gudas erased a potential scoring chance with a clutch block at 2:06 on a shift where the Caps got their forecheck working.
At around the 4:30 mark, Voracek led a 2-on-1 counterattack off a Caps turnover. Electing to shoot rather than pass, Voracek had Grubauer beaten but hit the crossbar. At the other end, after some extended offensive zone time by the Flyers, Elliott stopped a long-distance slapper from Ovechkin over the middle.
At 7:55, MacDonald pinched in with support up high and attempted a wraparound play after Voracek sent the puck his way. Grubauer made the save.
Laughton delivered his second goal of the game and season to build a 6-2 lead at 8:28. He pulled up atop the right circle and wired a rising wrist shot past a partially screened Grubauer. Provorov, who zipped the puck to Laughton, got the lone helper.
At 9:45, the Flyers made it 7-2. On a scramble near the net, Couturier jammed home his second goal of the game from a sharp angle alongside the right post with Grubauer's skate having drifted off. Dmitry Orlov swept it back from over the goal line. Referee Wes McCauley initially signaled no goal but a replay quickly reversed it. Giroux and Gostisbehere got the helpers on Couturier's second goal of the game and third of the season.
With 8:27 left, a multi-player scrum broke out near the player benches. With sticks coming up high near his face, Flyers bench-side commentator Chris Therien ripped away Gudas' stick in self-defense. Both Tom Wilson and Gudas were banished on 10-minute misconducts.
At 12:16, Voracek created yet another dangerous rush and earned an offensive zone faceoff for his team. The Caps controlled the draw and worked the puck out. On the next shift, catching the Caps D' pinching, Simmonds worked free for a counter rush.
Giroux potted his second goal of the game and third of the season at 15:23. Moving to his right from the slot to the circle, he snapped a shot home. Manning and Gostisbehere got the apples.
Elliott hadn't seen a quality shot in quite awhile when he was called on to stop a pinching Orlov firing on him untouched from the deep slot. The veteran goalie used his blocker to knock the puck out of play. Elliott's final save came on a backhander in close by Vrana just before the buzzer.
Third period shots were 13-7 Flyers; 37-23 Flyers overall.
The last time the Flyers had eight or more goals in a home opener was October 7, 1982 when they beat Quebec, 9-5, at the Spectrum in Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Mark Howe's first game as a Flyer. The last time the Flyers scored eight or more goals in any game was November 5, 2011 when they beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 9-2.
Saturday's game marked the eighth time in Flyers' history that they’ve scored eight or more against Washington. The last occasion came on Nov. 3, 2005 when they beat the Capitals, 8-1, in Philadelphia behind a big night by the trio of Peter Forsberg (one goal, two assists), Simon Gagne (two goals) and Mike Knuble (one goal, one assist) as well as rookie Jeff Carter (even strength and shorthanded goals).
The Flyers will have a complete off day on Sunday. They will return to practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees on Monday in preparation for a visit by the Florida Panthers the next night.
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PHANTOMS BOUNCE BACK FOR 3-2 WIN VS. PENS
Coming off an abysmal 5-0 road loss to the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday night, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms featured numerous lineup combination changes as the teams rematched at the PPL Center on Saturday night. The Phantoms gained a measure of revenge, building a 3-0 lead and then holding on for a 3-2 win in a penalty-filled game.
Matt Read (power play), Mike Vecchione (first pro goal) and Greg Carey scored for the Phantoms, posting a picket fence of one Lehigh Valley goal per period. Recovering from a very rough night on Friday, goaltender Alex Lyon enjoyed a strong performance on Saturday as he turned back 27 of 29 shots to get the win.
The Phantoms, who went 1-for-13 on the power play over the two games against the Pens, will close out a three-in-three set on the road on Sunday against the arch-rival Hersey Bears.
A vital facet to Saturday's win for the Phantoms was the penalty kill. The team went 5-for-6 on the PK, including a five-minute kill in the second period when T.J. Brennan cross-checked and fought ex-Flyer Tom Sestito in response to Sestito running Lyon.
Daniel Sprong, who scored on a laser beam of a power play one-timer in Friday's game, notched another power play goal in this game to cut the Pens' deficit to 3-1 with 14:55 remaining in regulation. Garrett Wilson got his side back within a goal with 3:07 left on the clock but the Penguins could not generate an equalizer.
One night after Casey DeSmith blanked the Phantoms, Tristan Jarry got the nod in goal for the Pens. He stopped 32 of 35 shots in a losing cause.
The Phantoms lineup featured multiple different combinations. Changes of note included rookie center Mikhail Vorobyev being moved down from the second line to the fourth line after a tough night on Friday. Rookie left winger Oskar Lindblom (still looking for his first point of the season, three shots on goal in this game) was moved off a struggling line with Phil Varone onto a new unit with Corban Knight and Conner. Rookie defenseman Mark Friedman was scratched in this game, with veteran Will O'Neill (a healthy scratch on Friday) returning to the lineup.
Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon kept the defense pairing of Sam Morin and Phil Myers together after a generally rough first game together on Friday. The pairing was plus-one in this game and Myers had three shots on goal. However, Myers had to leave the game in the third period after painfully blocking a shot and limping off the ice. The Phantoms finished the game with four defensemen with Myers unavailable and Brennan booted on his second period game misconduct.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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