Photo Credit: Andy Gorel
“He made the saves to keep us in the game,” Giroux said following the game of Carter Hart. “He looks pretty sharp right now.” Hart was still on the ice as everyone departed, as he was enjoying his homecoming with his friends and family in attendance. One heard cheers as he was announced as the game’s first star, and that was most likely the 20,000 fans that were in attendance to see him (Joking).
The Flyers last played in Edmonton on October 16, 2019, in a Flyers 6-3 loss, a game in which Hart was pulled. It was anything but blissful, and they would not let it happen again. Not for Hart, not for the team, it appears the new blood that Chuck Fletcher injected into the team this past offseason would prevail in the end.
Hart made 34 out of 37 saves. He was dialed in from the start, as the Flyers led 3-2 after 1, in the eventual 5-3 Flyers victory. Hart has played well in his bounce back season, and right now the Flyers are reaping the benefits. The Oilers are a very good team, with the Flyers handing them their first loss in regulation. It was a solid defensive effort from the back end to the front end, a complete 60 minute effort from this group.
“He was great,” Flyers defenceman Keith Yandle said of Hart following the game. “Against a team like that, they’re super explosive and they can make plays out of nothing.”
This is a game the Flyers may have lost last season, especially without the services of Ryan Ellis. Most thought the Flyers would struggle, especially without the services of Ellis. So it’s nice to overcome some tough adversity to start the season and prevail with the “W”.
“You always have to be on your game defensively and the goaltender is a big part of that. He made a lot of big stops for us and it was a big team effort.” – Keith Yandle on Carter Hart
“I thought we played our best period in the third when the game was on the line and we found a way to get two points in a very tough environment,” Vigneault said with his team’s first road victory this season.
Last night’s Flyers victory was impressive. They gutted out a 5-3 victory over lethal Oilers team that could score at will, without the services of Ryan Ellis. This was by far one of the most impressive wins early this year. What will happen this season is anyone’s guess, but this Flyers team appears to be fun to watch.
Flyers Notes:
Atkinson’s six goals are the most by a Flyers player through his first five games with the franchise, a record previously held by Todd Bergen in 1984-85.
Claude Giroux and Cam Atkinson now extend their point streaks that began on opening night:
Cam Atkinson- 7pts; 6g-1a
Claude Giroux- 6pts; 4g
Sean Couturier quietly has posted 2g,3a in the early going
