PHILADELPHIA: Tuesday’s theme was Flyers fans never forget in a bad way. Tonight, it was the opposite.
Former Flyer Scott Laughton made his long awaited return to Philadelphia after being traded to Toronto last season. It was a happy reunion for both Laughton and the fans.
Loud roars and cheers rained down as Laughton was honored during the first TV timeout. The tribute even had a Gritty element to it.
Gritty was in the upper-bowl with a fishing poll with the t-shirt the two made last year as bait. It produced a good chuckle of out Laughton, who used to be Gritty’s best friend.
The shenanigans started pregame by Laughton’s former agitating buddy Travis Konecny. Well, per Laughton this morning “a big rat”.
Konecny caused a disturbance when Laughton was talking to the TSN pregame. He fired at least five pucks at Lauhgton’s feet.
The two former allies, now foes, would score the lone two goals for each team in regulation.
Konecny’s 14th goal of the season gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead 55 seconds into the 2nd period. It was his third goal in his last five games.
Laughton’s fifth goal of the season tied the game late in the third period. It was a shorthanded goal in the final seconds of the latter half of the Flyers back to back power-plays.
Toronto killed off 52 seconds of 5 v 3 time as well during the two power-plays.
In overtime, the Flyers couldn’t catch a break on two sequences in tight on Dennis Hildeby. Trevor Zegras, Matvei Michkov, and Sean Couturier all had scoring chances.
But, with tired bodies on the ice, Toronto capitalized on a 2 v 1. Denver Barkey’s former teammate in London and best friend Easton Cowen would get game winner.
Dan Vladar made 22 saves in the losing effort.
Travis Konecny left the game after the 2nd period with an upper-body injury and did not return. No update was available postgame on his status.
The Flyers return to action on Saturday night when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:00pm.
