The Philadelphia Flyers started a home-and-home series with the Pittsburgh Penguins in Philadelphia Tuesday night, and let’s just say the Flyers put on a dominant performance. Noah Cates’ line piled up four goals and six assists on the night and Samuel Ersson was excellent with only allowing a goal. The Flyers stole two huge points and got back to hockey .500 at 26-26-7 on the season.
Rasmus Ristolainen gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at the 3:56 mark of the first period. Egor Zamula passed the puck to him from the blue line to the right circle and Ristolainen put a slapshot through the legs of Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. Zamula and Matvei Michkov collected assists.
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The Flyers got the game’s first power play at the 6:48 mark of the first period as Anthony Beauvillier was called for high-sticking. The first unit couldn’t get anything going but the second did. Bobby Brink managed to get two good shots on net, but Nedeljkovic had all the answers.
Cates gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead at the 12:19 mark of the first period. He put a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Nedeljkovic. A nice pass by Brink helped set him up. Brink and Jakob Pelletier tallied assists. This is Pelletier’s first point as a Flyer.
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Kris Letang was called for hooking just 37 seconds into the second period which gave the Flyers their second power play of the game. The Flyers couldn’t capitalize yet again, but they got three shots on net and Nedeljkovic had to make a big save on Michkov.
Philip Tomasino got the Penguins on the board at the 6:09 mark of the second period. Michael Bunting flipped the puck to him and he put a backhander past the right pad of Ersson. This made the score 2-1 Flyers. Bunting and Letang were given assists.
The Penguins got their first power play at the 8:05 mark of the second period as Garnet Hathaway was called for interference. The Flyers did a nice job blocking shots and clearing the puck when given the opportunity. Letang did ring one off the post, however.
Tyson Foerster gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead at the 11:55 mark of the second period. Jamie Drysdale made a nice cross-ice pass and Foerster put a wrist shot past the blocker of Nedeljkovic. Drysdale and Brink picked up assists.
Cates scored his second of the game at the 18:55 mark of the second period to give the Flyers a 4-1 lead. Nedeljkovic made the initial save on Foerster but the rebound made its way to Cates who put a wrist shot just over the right pad of Nedeljkovic. Brink and Foerster collected assists.
10 seconds later, Brink scored to give the Flyers a 5-1 lead at the 19:05 mark of the second period. Cates’ shot went off Brink’s stick, deflected off of Pierre-Olivier Joseph’s knee and into the net. Cates and Foerster tallied assists.
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The Flyers got their third power play just 16 seconds into the third period as Bryan Rust was called for holding. They got a few good chances around the net but again couldn’t capitalize.
The Penguins got their second power play at the 3:47 mark of the third period as Nick Seeler got called for hooking. Ersson had to make a tricky save and the Flyers had a few scoring chances while shorthanded.
Owen Tippett gave the Flyers a 6-1 lead at the 6:06 mark of the third period. Michkov stripped the puck away from Danton Heinen, passed the puck to Sean Couturier, then to Tippett who put a wrist shot past the left pad of Nedeljkovic. Couturier and Michkov were given assists.
The Flyers went 0 for 3 on the power play but managed to kill off both of the Penguins’ man advantages.
Ersson had himself a great night in goal, once again. He saved 23 of 24 shots, giving him a .958 save percentage.
Goal Summary
1st Period:
Ristolainen (4) Assists: Zamula (10), Michkov (23)
Cates (11) Assists: Brink (17), Pelletier (8)
2nd Period:
Tomasino (8) Assists: Bunting (15), Letang (14)
Foerster (16) Assists: Drysdale (11), Brink (18)
Cates (12) Assists: Brink (19), Foerster (11)
Brink (8) Assists: Cates (13), Foerster (12)
3rd Period:
Tippett (17) Assists: Couturier (20), Michkov (24)
Flyers Next Game
Flyers next game is Thursday, Feb 27. in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.
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