This tilt got off to a very choppy start. The Flyers appeared to be sizing things up as Vancouver seemed very determined to open the score sheet.
The Flyers were back on their heels and icing the puck as Vancouver put a number of shots on goaltender Dan Vladar. Vladar made a number of fine saves in the opening moments of the match.
Nick Seeler took offense to a clean hit by Evander Kane. Kane took Seeler into the boards behind the Flyers net. Both players quickly agreed to drop the gloves and Seeler whooped him. Not even close.
Vancouver continued to pepper the Flyers net with pucks until at 3:45 on their 8th shot of the game David Kampf hit the back of the net to put the Canucks up 1-0. Philadelphia had not yet managed a shot on goal.
The Flyers withstood a Vancouver power-play and with the man advantage or without the hosts were clearly in control early on. They outshot the Flyers 10-0 throughout the first ten minutes of play.
Flyers come to life
The Flyers had their 2nd shot on goal with 7:58 left in the opening period. Matvei Michkov hit Noah Cates streaking down the right hand side. Cates fired a wrist shot from the circle just under the glove, over the pad, and off the post beating Thatcher Demko and tying the score at one.
The Flyers offense really started to come to life, creating some fine chances as the 1st period came to an end.
Philadelphia brought that renewed energy with them into the 2nd period. After a prolonged possession in the Vancouver end Carl Grundstrom scored his 4th goal in as many games. He made a nice move to give himself enough room to beat Demko with a high rising shot far side 3:40 into the middle period.
Keeping the pressure on
With 3:40 left in the second the Flyers struck again. Travis Konecny was all alone at the side of the Vancouver net smacking his stick on the ice calling for the pass. Jamie Drysdale fed him the puck. Konecny put a backhander on net, Demko made the initial save. TK dove into the forehanded rebound shot putting the puck into the top far side corner of the net. Highlight reel stuff.
The period ended with some wide open 4-on-4 action featuring plenty of dangerous opportunities at both ends of the ice. This game headed into the final period of regulation with the visiting Flyers ahead by the score of 3-1.
Late Show in Vancouver
Early in the third, just 68 seconds in fact. Drew O’Connor smacked a pinball of a puck past Dan Vladar after it had already bounced off everything else in sight.
Twenty-six seconds later the Flyers redeemed themselves. Again the set up came from Matvei Michkov storming into the Vancouver zone. He hit Bobby Brink flying towards the net deflecting the puck into the goal and restoring the two goal lead.
Close Call
A wild moment when Jamie Drysdale broke his stick on a shot attempt from the point. It led to a breakaway for Evander Kane. Vladar stopped the shot but the puck continued across the crease in front of the wide open net. Drysdale was there but he was still without a stick watching and trying to figure out how to help.
Final Push
The Flyers up 4-2, Grundstrom picked up a holding call with 4:28 left in regulation. Vancouver eventually pulled their netminder for the 6-on-4 advantage. Owen Tippett won a foot race in the neutral zone picking up the puck and firing it into the open net with 2:41 remaining.
After making a cluster of saves Vladar found himself completely out of position as Tom Willander fired the puck into the gaping net to make the score 5-3 with 1:41 left to play. Vancouver again pulled the goaltender.
Big Win on the Road
Dvorak scored the Flyers second empty net goal to made it 6-3 with 36.8 on the clock. And that’s all she wrote. Twenty to one in the morning East Coast time and this one is finally in the books. This win has the Flyers sitting 4 points out of 1st place in the Metropolitan Division.
Extra Credit: It’s near impossible not to notice Denver Barkey when he is on the ice. He’s speedy, determined, and relentless in his pursuit of the puck. He sees the ice well and set up a number of quality scoring chances tonight. He has been a strong addition to the Flyers line-up so far.
Up Next: The Flyers are right back at it Wednesday night. New Year’s Eve in Calgary 9:30 PM opening face-off. This game should be winding down right around the same time as 2025.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise
About Author
