Wrap: Flyers Nip Detroit, 1-0
Running their point streak to eight games (6-0-2) and their overall season record to 17-10-3 through 30 games, the Philadelphia Flyers skated to a 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday evening.
Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson earned his second shutout of the 2023-24 season, stopping all 34 shots he faced and making a single goal stand up for the final 53:39 of the game. Ersson had help in the form of 20 blocked shots in front of him.
A lucky bounce on a goal credited to Cam York (5th) of the season at 6:21 of the first period represented the first and only goal of the night for either side. York was attempting a pass from the left circle to Sean Couturier near the right post but Detroit center J.T. Compher accidentally deflected the puck into the net from the crease as he defended the pass. The assists went to Travis Konecny and Tyson Foerster.
With Travis Sanheim a late scratch for Saturday's game due to illness, Rasmus Ristolainen (23:07 of ice time, three hits, one vital blocked shot in the waning minutes of the third period) moved up to right defense on the top pairing for the Flyers.
The Flyers staged a strong closeout in the third period. The final few minutes were chaotic but several blocked shots and clutch saves from Ersson nailed down the game.
For Ersson, Saturday was also a special night because his parents (watching him play live for the first time in the NHL over the past two games after traveling from Falun, Sweden) and girlfriend were in the stands. His siblings are on the way this week, and the entire family will spend Christmas in New York.
The Flyers went 0-for-3 on the power play (the final one was over the last 15.8 seconds of the game after ex-Flyer Shayne Gostisbehere took a desperation tripping penalty on Ryan Poehling). Philly was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, and the PK was a key factor in the Flyers short-circuiting momentum for Detroit.
Former Flyers and Phantoms goalie Alex Lyon started Saturday's game for Detroit. He stopped 14 of 15 shots in 26:50 of action before an apparent left ankle injury forced him to exit the game. Ville Husso went the rest of the way in relief, stopping all 18 shots he faced in 30:19.
For a a period-by-period in-depth recall, analysis, stats and highlights, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com.
The Flyers will have a complete off-day on Sunday. On Monday, they'll practice at the FTC in Voorhees in preparation to play the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark the next night. Prior to the NHL's leaguewide Christmas break, the Flyers have a 3-in-4 gauntlet of games. After they visit the Devils on Tuesday, Philly will host the Nashville Predators on Thursday and rematch with the Red Wings the next evening in Detroit. By the time of the final game before the break, Dylan Larkin may be back in the Red Wings' lineup and David Perron will be eligible to return from a six-game NHL suspension.
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Phantoms Lose to Springfield, 4-2
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms dropped back down to "hockey .500" on the 2023-24 season (11-11-4) as they lost a 4-2 home decision to the Springfield Thunderbirds (14-8-2) at the PPL Center on Saturday evening. One night earlier, the Phantoms were unable to close out a third period lead against the Laval Rocket and went down to a 4-3 loss in regulation.
The Phantoms three players who are currently in strong grooves offensively struck again on Sunday, as Cooper Marody (PPG, 6th goal of season) established a 1-0 lead on the power play at 3:23 of the first period. Emil Andrae and Samu Tuomaala earned the assists.
The lead did hold up. At 6:15 of the first period, Adam Gaudette (15th) knotted the score at 1-1. First period shots were 9-8 in the Phantoms' favor.
Springfield took the lead -- for good, as it turned out -- at 6:01 of the second period, courtesy of Mikhail Abramov (4th). Second period shots on net were tied at 12-12.
In the third period, the Phantoms got themselves into penalty trouble. At the 47-second mark, Elliot Desnoyers went off on a tripping minor. At 2:15, Tanner Laczynski was called for high-sticking. This set up up a 5-on-3 power play for Springfield for 32 seconds. The problems were compounded at 2:55 when Emil Andrae sent the puck over the glass from the defensive zone for an automatic delay of game penalty. Right back on a two-man disadvantage after just eight seconds of 5-on-4 play, the Phantoms were in severe trouble.
Sure enough, at 3:01, Dylan Coghlan (PPG, 9th) cashed in on the 5-on-3 to establish a 3-1 edge for the Thunderbirds. Jakub Vrana (second assist of the game in his first game with Springfield after clearing waivers and being sent down by the Blues) earned the primary helper, with Matthew Peca getting the secondary assist.
Springfield put the game out of reach with a Drew Callin empty net goal (4th) at 18:06 to make it 4-1. Phantoms rookie J.R. Avon (6th) scored with 20 seconds left in the game to cut the final margin to 4-2.
The Phantoms went 1-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill, but the spate of early third period penalties proved to be fatal. Both teams had a player ejected as Brendan Furry and Keean Washkurak received matching fighting majors and game misconducts for a fight right off the drop of the puck at 17:15 of the first period.
Felix Sandström, in a losing cause, stopped 26 of 29 shots on goal. Winning goalie Vadim Zherenko stopped 34 of 36 shots for Springfield.
The Phantoms are now off until Thursday and Friday, when they'll play back-to-back road games at Bojangles Coliseum against the Charlotte Checkers. This past week, the Phantoms beat Charlotte twice at the PPL Center.
Lehigh Valley's starting lineup from Saturday's game follows below:
24 Adam Brooks - 9 Tanner Laczynski - 27 Samu Tuomaala 17 Garrett Wilson - 22 Rhett Gardner - 19 Wade Allison 16 J.R. Avon - 91 Elliot Desnoyers - 20 Cooper Marody 13 Brendan Furry - 56 Jacob Gaucher - 14 Zayde Wisdom
6 Emil Andrae - 7 Louie Belpedio 98 Victor Mete - 12 Ronnie Attard 37 Adam Ginning - 5 Ethan Samson
32 Felix Sandström [40 Cal Petersen]