The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New Jersey Devils by a score of 2 to 1 thanks in large part to a stellar performance by Philly goaltender Carter Hart. Jersey has a ton of young talent and is going to be a thorn in the Flyers side for years to come. Tonight they outshot the Flyers 49-24, every period ended with the Devils having twice the Flyers shot total. In the 1st period New Jersey seemed to control the play, they set the tone, and eventually drew first blood. Jack Hughes made a dazzling move that left the Flyers looking like they were just watching the show as he worked his way through the defense and put the puck in the net, top shelf, far side. It was not a good period in general for the Flyers. The Devils were moving quick and the Flyers looked more confused than flat.
After the first period it felt like Jersey may set the pace the entire game but the Flyers came out much stronger in the second. The Devils were still throwing a ton of quality chances at the Flyers net but the Flyers were starting to settle in and get some chances of their own. Carter Hart was called on several times to make big saves and was clearly up to the challenge. You can’t say enough about his performance in the net last night. Steady, confident, and sure of himself with the puck. Scott Laughton tied the score at one with a rocket of a one-timer on a pass from Travis Sanheim. Nicolas Deslauriers got into a heavyweight bout with Michael McLeod. Deslauriers does not get into little scrums when the gloves come off. Time stands still and everything else goes on the back burner until the business at hand is settled. The Flyers continued working hard and got themselves out of the second period tied at one.
The third period again found Carter Hart keeping his team in the running. It also found Kevin Hayes sitting on the bench for the entire period for the second time this season. (Head Coach John Tortorella refused to give details on that matter in his feisty post game interview).
Finally things broke the Flyers way for once. Noah Cates sprang a lead pass to Travis Konecny who used his impressive speed to score what proved to be the game winning goal on a breakaway at 11:46 of the third period. Cates assisted on both Flyers goals. As time was winding down New Jersey kept knocking on the door with their goalie pulled for the extra attacker but to no avail. Carter Hart and the Flyers found a way to protect this lead and ride it out to the end of the game. The Flyers have had a hard time holding a lead this season and have often found themselves watching it slipping away in the final seconds but that would not be the case last night.
Next game Saturday night at home against the Rangers 7 PM
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