The Flyers proud faithful needed something to cheer for last night, and they got it not only with Scott Laighton’s 500th game but with a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
Believe it or not Nic Deslauriers started the scoring for the Flyers. Both he and Brendan Lemieux were on the Penalty Kill together, Deslauriers and he ended up with a short-handed breakaway to which he made no mistake about it potting his fifth of the season to tie the game at one. Deslauriers had a massive celebration, cheering, yeah he was pumped up and he should be. It’s not very often he has a breakaway and it finally put some smiles on the player’s faces, “I just said it on radio, but I celebrate like it is going to be my last one, you never know,” Deslauriers said following the game.
There wasn’t nothing fancy about it, Deslauriers kept it simple, made a few stick handling moves and rifled the puck on net. Deslauriers picked his spot to the right side of the netminder:
Moments later, a young player by the name of Noah Cates deflects the puck home for a 2-1 lead. He has really taken the Flyers by surprise this year, especially with how mature he is, “I think everything, but he is mature,” Nic Deslauriers said of Noah Cates following the game. “That is the main thing. These guys, the new generation, is somewhere else. He steps in and is comfortable but stays to his himself. That is a good thing to have a young kid like him, who has a lot of responsibility. I think the main thing for me is that we all know how good of a hockey player he is, but his maturity is somewhere else.”
If Cates continues to play like this the rest of his career. He could very well win a Selke eventually. Yes he’s been the Flyers best defensive Forward this season, and one of the most consistent ones at that. He reminds me of how Sean Couturier was during his younger years.
Cates now has 10g,17a on the season, and is a plus four this season. He’s been a bright spot for the Flyers, and it’s much needed. Cates has been a breath of fresh air, and in his rookie season he makes it seem look easy. He actually looks like an NHL veteran on the ice.
500 for Scotty
Scott Laughton could wind up being the Flyers next Captain, and it would be an honor in which he would appreciate. He has been that leader on and off the ice all season, and he leaves everything out there like John Tortorella says.
Laughton still leads by example, and is the only Flyers player to don a letter this season. For his efforts, Laughton netted an empty net goal in his 500th career NHL game that sealed the 3-1 victory for the orange and black, it can’t get much better than that.
Brendan Lemieux
Lemieux made his Flyers debut last night, and it was a pretty solid one at that. He was involved in two of the Flyers three goals on the night, and he registered five hits.
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On Nic Deslauriers’s short-handed breakaway goal he won a board battle along the wall. John Tortorella did say he was going to use him in every situation possible, and it paid off tying the game at one.
“I think I’m their type of player. In today’s NHL, there’s less and less of it. It just depends on the night, the team, and the matchup, but I think they’ll like it,” Lemieux instead of Philadelphia following the game.
Lemieux is showcasing himself to stay in the NHL. He comes back from injury, and barely played with the Los Angeles Kings. This is a fresh start for him in Philadelphia, so let’s see how it plays out for the rest of the season.
The Flyers well now travel to face the juggernaut in the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night. This is a daunting task for this young Flyers club.
