Wrap: Patience Pays off for Flyers in 5-2 Win vs. Devils
The Philadelphia Flyers needed a game like Saturday's win over the New Jersey Devils:
a 5-2 victory characterized by a patient and sound two-way performance where they battled through some adversity. The Flyers were persistent and got the better of the five-on-five play in particular. The Devils blocked 27 Flyers and shot attempts and Philly missed the net on 21 other attempts but Philly kept going until they finally took advantage of a counter opportunity.
It wasn't fancy or exciting for the most part but it worked.
Jakub Voracek scored on a 2-on-1 opportunity at 16:50 to put the Flyers ahead for good at 3-2. Late in the second period, Voracek made a perfect pass to Nolan Patrick (1st goal of the season, back in the lineup after a three-game injury absence) to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead they took into the third period. The Flyers also got a first-period power play goal by Travis Konecny (2nd), and late empty net tallies from Wayne Simmonds (6th) and Scott Laughton (4th).
On a day in which the first power play unit was out of synch, the Flyers second unit stepped up not only for a Konecny goal wired home from the top of the right circle but extended time on subsequent power plays.
Brian Elliott bounced back well from a subpar game against Florida on Tuesday. He stopped 19 of 21 shots to earn the win. The Devils got an early first period power play goal that Damon Severson shot through a screen (firing the puck between defenseman Christian Folin's legs). New Jersey tied the game at 2-2 early in the third period on a Brian Boyle goal with Kyle Palmieri stationed in the blue paint. The Flyers challenged the goal, claiming goalie interference but officials ruled there was no incidental contact on the play.
Keith Kinkaid took the loss for NJ, stopped 16 of 19 shots.
Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol made a defense pair switch early in the first period. He moved Robert Hägg from second pair left defense to play the right side with Ivan Provorov (two assists, plus-two, four blocks in 23:24), while Shayne Gostisbehere moved from right defense with Provorov to the left side of Folin. The pairing of Travis Sanheim (who also had two assists) and Radko Gudas had another solid game. Sanheim's best play was airtight defense on Taylor Hall on a counterattack after Gudas fell down in the offensive zone. The Patrick goal sequence unfolded very shortly thereafter.
The Flyers dominated the faceoff circle in this game, winning 72 percent of draws (44 of 60). Sean Couturier led the way with 14 wins on 16 faceoffs. In the physical hockey department, Hägg paced the team with four credited hits.
The Flyers will have an off-day on Sunday. On Monday, they will host the Colorado Avalanche.