The Philadelphia Flyers ended a three game losing streak Saturday night in Winnipeg. Beating the Winnipeg Jets 4-0.
Noah Cates gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead in the 1st period. Cates 8th of the season made it goals in back to back games.
Kieffer Bellows would give the Flyers a 2-0 lead in the 2nd period. Bellows first goal as a Flyer came off another assist from Rasmus Ristolainen. Extending his point streak to three games.
Owen Tippett would make it 3-0 Flyers early in the 3rd period. Tippett’s 14th of the season ended an 8 game goal-less drought.
“It feels good to break that streak going into the break,” Tippett said on ending his 8-game goal-less drought. “Just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win.”
Tony DeAngelo would end Connor Hellebuyck’s night and give the Flyers a 4-0 lead. DeAngelo’s 9th of the season made it goals in back to back games.
Carter Hart would all 40-shots fired his way for his first shutout of the season. Hart improves to 15-14-8 on the season.
“Everybody contributed,” John Tortorella said on his team’s effort. “We score four goals, but what I really liked was our checking.”
Tortorella added “I just want our team to play hard and I thought we played hard; hard away from the puck; stood in there really nice tonight.”
Rasmus Ristolainen Offense Starting To Show
Over the past two months, Rasmus Ristolainen’s highlights have mainly come on the defensive side.
But, over the past two weeks, Ristolainen’s offensive game is starting to show. With his 2nd two-point in his last 7 games.
“My game has been getting better every game,” Ristolainen said on his play. “More important, I think is as a team we are playing really well.”
Ristolainen got the primary assist on both Kieffer Bellows and Owen Tippett’s goals.
Over the past 7 games, Ristolainen has 2 goals and 5 assists.
11 Forwards… No Problem For Flyers
After playing the final two periods in Minnesota with just 10 forwards, the Flyers were faced with another tough task tonight.
With Wade Allison and Zack MacEwen both out due to injuries, the Flyers chose to go with 11 forwards and 7 defenseman. A move that John Tortorella said would “quite honestly will help some guys.”
“You feel a little different when you are going into a break; trying to just empty the tank,” Noah Cates said on the Flyers being down a forward. “You get a lot of ice time; you just got to play to your game.”
While most of the lines stayed the same throughout the game for the most part, the line that gave the Flyers the most energy was the make-shift 4th line – Kieffer Bellows & Nic Deslauriers with a rotating center.
Bellows scored his first goal as a Flyer in the 2nd period. Extending the Flyers lead to 2-0.
Wade Allison Day To Day
Wade Allison was supposed to play in-front of 100 family and friends tonight in Winnipeg. But, an injury in Minnesota on Thursday
Allison blocked a shot off his right knee in the 2nd period in Minnesota and did not return.
There was hope for Allison to play tonight earlier in the day. But, swelling on his knee caused his to miss the game.
“Wade Allison has a lower-body injury. He is day-to-day.” – GM Chuck Fletcher
Zack MacEwen Out Five Weeks
On Thursday in Minnesota, Zack MacEwen dropped the gloves with Wild’s Marcus Foligno. It was the third fight in a 15 second span.
During the fight, MacEwen took a punch square to the jaw. Ending his night early.
Before the game tonight, the Flyers announced MacEwen would be out approximately five weeks.
“Zack MacEwen underwent successful surgery for a fractured jaw this morning. Expected recovery time is approximately five weeks.” – GM Chuck Fletcher
Flyers Hit All Star Break At .500%
For the first time in four seasons, the Flyers hit the all star with a .500% record.
With tonight’s win in Winnipeg, the Flyers sit at 21-21-9 on the season.
Result : Flyers 4 – Jets 0 , WIN
Record : 21 – 21 – 9
Next Game : Monday 2/6 , New York Islanders , Philadelphia PA , 7:00pm
PHOTO CREDIT: Jonathan Kozub Getty Images
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