Flyers Crush Coyotes, 6-2
The Philadelphia Flyers staged a spectacular second period in route to earning a blowout 6-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes at the Wells Fargo on Thursday evening. For the first time in nearly two calendar years, the Flyers have won four games in a row. The team has also scored at least three goals in eight straight games.
On Thursday, Flyers weren't bad in the first period despite trailing 1-0 at intermission. But they took over the game in a lopsided middle frame, outscoring Arizona, 5-1, and outshooting them 19-9 with a major disparity in their favor, as well, in bonafide scoring opportunities. Philly closed it out with a pretty disciplined third period.
Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes notched a goal and two assists apiece in the game. Morgan Frost racked up a single-game career high of four assists. In two games against Arizona this season, Frost has strafed the Coyotes for eight points (1g, 7a).
Konecny has posted at least one point in 10 of his last 11 games, 14 of the last 16 games, and 20 of the last 23 games. Most recently, he has recorded points in seven straight games (8g, 6a, 14 points).
Arizona's Michael Carcone (2nd goal of the season) gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead at 13:29 of the first period. In the second period, the Flyers exploded for five goals. After a tally by Konecny off a set play (PPG. 20th) was answered quickly by Nick Ritchie (8th), the Flyers took over the game and laid a four-goal whipping on Arizona over the rest of the middle stanza; Joel Farabee (8th), Wade Allison (4th), Ivan Provorov (2nd) and Kevin Hayes (PPG. 10th).
The Flyers maintained the three-goal lead for most of the third period. With less than five minutes remaining, James van Riemsdyk (6th) buried a shot to forge a 6-2 cushion.
Activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, Carter Hart got the start in net for the Flyers. He stopped 21 of 23 shots to earn the win. Karel Vejmelka (28 saves on 34 shots) took the loss.
The Flyers went 2-for-3 on the power play. The Coyotes went 0-for-1. Keeping the Coyotes off the power play until late in the third period with the outcome already sealed was another positive for the Flyers. Arizona came into the game having tallied power play goals in five straight games.
Additionally, while the previous meeting between the Flyers and Coyotes turned into a seesaw (and often wide open) game with multiple odd-man rushes allowed, the Flyers did give up very much overall in this game. Unlike the previous game, when Clayton Keller torched Philly for a hat trick and was dangerous in open ice, the Flyers held him in check this game.
For an in-depth period-by-period synopsis, analysis, stats and highlights from Thursday's win, see the