The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
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John Tortorella has not been shy in his lengthy NHL head coaching career to make impactful decisions about his roster. Including benching and sometimes scratching his star players.
Tonight, it was a scratching and a pretty big one.
Newly named captain, Sean Couturier, was a healthy scratch. Tortorella was unavailable for a comment pregame for an exact reason. But, Couturier’s struggles over the past 20 games may have played a big part.
Scratching a player of Couturier’s caliber, not to mention the captain of the team, raised some criticism throughout the day.
In what could have been the Flyers most important game of the season, Tortorella laid it all out on the line for his young team. Respond to the test or continue their spiral?
The young Flyers team chose to respond and respond in a big way.
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Owen Tippett started off the scoring just 19-seconds into the game. A goal created by what John Tortorella has been preaching after games that has been missing – a forecheck.
Travis Sanheim extended the Flyers lead just 56-seconds into the 2nd period. Again, another goal created by the Flyers forecheck.
Morgan Frost made it 3-0 Flyers late in the 2nd period. Frost fit a perfect shot through about five player before the puck found the back of the net.
In the 3rd period, after two Toronto goals, Scott Laughton scored the game winner for the Flyers.
After serving a penalty, Laughton exited the box to start a 2v1 with Owen Tippett. A play started by two huge pad saves by Sam Ersson.
In the win, Ersson made 27 saves on 30 Leafs shots.
RESULT: Maple Leafs 3 – Flyers 4 , WIN
RECORD: 35 – 26 – 8
NEXT GAME: Thursday 3/21 @ Carolina Hurricanes
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