Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Winnipeg Jets came to town Thursday night to face off against the Philadelphia Flyers. Winnipeg is one of the stronger teams in the league this season 30-13-5 at puck drop. But the Flyers are no easy mark, at 26-19-6 they were not going to be a push-over. This game could have gone either way. Samuel Ersson started his 8 consecutive game in the Flyers net.
Philly vs Winnipeg
The Flyers wasted no time getting started in this one. Right from the opening face-off they were aggressive, disciplined, and effective. They were on the board just 3:37 into the match. Ryan Poehling was skating down the left side with the puck. Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit was completely committed to his right post cutting off Poehling’s angle. Poehling passed the puck across the slot to Tyson Foerster who tapped it into the gaping net. Brossoit played the situation as if he had no idea that a pass was even a possibility. He was committed to the shooter and gave Foerster the entire side of a barn to hit.
Just over six minutes into the game Travis Konecny squared off with Neal Poink. There was not a lot of buildup. The Flyers were already setting the pace of the game when Konecny and Poink went at it against the boards. It was not your typical TK fast scrum, it was a full on fight that ended with Konecny on top as the building roared. The crowd, the team, and the tone of the game was totally energized.
Pinball Wizard
The Flyers had several chances in the 1st period sustaining pressure and outshooting the Jets 13-5. Ersson was solid in the shots he faced. With just under six minutes left in the period and the puck bouncing off everything in front of the Winnipeg net Morgan Frost tapped the bouncing puck to Konecny who batted it off a Jet and into the net.
With just under two minutes left in the dominant 1st period Morgan Frost beat Brossiot with a tricky shot from the slot just under the glove but over the pad making it 3-1. The assists went to Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny. Konecny had pulled off a Gordie Howe Hattrick (a goal, an assist, and a fight) all in the 1st period of the game. As time was running out Ersson made a spectacular save keeping Winnipeg locked off of the board.
That opening period will be something that Travis Konecny will be remembered for. He totally took the bull by the horns and for all intents and purposes that game was won in the 1st period and he was the one who won it. He was a house on fire for the duration. He was on a mission and he succeeded. The odds were pretty even when this match started, it was all over in the first twenty minutes.
Jets push back
The Jets came into the 2nd period determined to get back into this game. They outshot the Flyers in the 2nd 15-3. Ersson was stellar keeping Winnipeg off the board. Ryan Poehling scored shorthanded to put the Flyers up 4-0. The Jets were playing a good game the Flyers were just better. A power play goal by the Jets could have really helped them get something going. Instead Poehling went streaking into the Jets zone with the puck and buried it far side from the circle. It was a back breaker.
Ersson
The final period was pretty wide open. The Jets had nothing to lose and were taking a ton of chances outshooting the Flyers by double in the 3rd. Ersson was called on over and over again as he stood tall in the Flyers net. At one point the Flyers had a two man advantage with two Jets sitting in the penalty box. That ended with a Flyers miscommunication and Ersson making a beautiful save on a breakaway.
Winnipeg kept knocking on the door and finally Kyle Connor spoiled the shutout with just under five minutes to go. The Flyers were putting in the hard work. The Jets were relentless and to their credit played this game to the final horn even though it was way out of reach. The Flyers stayed right with them, blocking shots, winning battles, with Ersson as a fantastic final line of defense.
Team
This Flyers team can be so impressive when the chips are down. They needed to bounce back from the tragic run that led into the All Star break. It seemed as if their house of cards might finally be showing some signs of stress. Especially with the loss of a top goaltender. These last two games they have shown they are something way stronger than any one player. John Tortorella is building a team.
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