The Philadelphia Flyers ended a four game losing streak to the Florida Panthers Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Coming from behind twice to beat the Panthers 4-3.
Coming off their worst performance of the season, head coach John Tortorella was hoping for a good start from his team. After a three day off period, Tortorella wanted his guys to come out hungry.
But, it was the complete opposite in the 1st period.
The Florida Panthers jumped all over the short-handed Flyers. Firing 19-shots, including the first eight shots of the game, at Carter Hart.
It wasn’t till 14:18 mark of the 1st period that the Flyers got their first shot on Sergei Bobrovsky.
While it wasn’t the start Tortorella hoped for, the response from his team was a welcomed sight.
“It is the type of team we are,” Kevin Hayes said after the Flyers 4-3 win over the Panthers. “We go down one, tie it up, go down another, tie it up. We all fight and work hard.”
In the 1st period, the Flyers came back from two one-goal deficits. Including shaking off an immediate response by the Panthers after tying the game at 1-1.
The Flyers response is something that Tortorella was looking for in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks. A response that never came and ended with the benching of Travis Konecny & Kevin Hayes. Both of which, contributed in a big way in the 1st period.
“Will never question how hard he (Konecny) plays,” head coach John Tortorella said post game. “Thought he (Konecny) played really well; Kevin played well with a lot of ice-time.”
Travis Konecny assisted on both Flyers goals and Kevin Hayes assisted on the Flyers second goal.
Carter Hart Stands Tall
The Flyers entered tonight a perfect 4-0-0 in Carter Hart’s starts. Mainly because of their netminder making the big saves when needed.
Tonight, after a shaking 1st period, Hart had to rely a little more on his team-mates in-front of him.
The Panthers fired 108-shot attempts at Hart tonight. While 51-shots did make there way to Hart, the other 57-shots were handled by his team-mates.
Led by Ivan Provorov, 9-blocks, the Flyers blocked 29-shots tonight.
Carter Hart finished the night making 48-saves on 51-shots. Both tying his career high’s in saves & shots faced.
Flyers Claim Kieffer Bellows
On Thursday, before puck drop, the Flyers made some headlines. Claiming New York Islanders LW Kieffer Bellows off of waivers.
Bellows, a former 1st round pick (19th overall) in 2019, was placed on waivers after failing to find his way with the Islanders. The 24-year-old left-winger was at the point where a fresh start elsewhere could hopefully jump start his NHL career.
As for the Flyers, the front office isn’t a stranger and is familiar with Bellows.
Assistant GM Brent Flahr always has his eye on those Minnesota boys. Bellows is an Edina MN native. But, GM Chuck Fletcher and Flahr also now Bellows from his time at Boston University. Jordan Greenway, who Fletcher drafted in 2015, was a teammate of Bellows in 2017.
In 68-career games, Bellows has 11-goals & 14-assists.
Loose Pucks…
- Carter Hart, while shaky in the 1st period, stood tall and led his team to victory. Hart stopped 48 of 51 shots fired his way. Tying his career high in saves for a game.
- Travis Konecny responded with a big game after being benched in the 3rd period on Saturday. Konecny assisted on the Flyers first two goals of the night in the 1st period.
- Kevin Hayes also responded in the 1st period after his benching on Saturday. Hayes also finished with two assists on the night.
- Owen Tippett & Rasmus Ristolainen both returned to the lineup for the Flyers. Tippett had an assist in 18:24 of ice time and Ristolainen recoreded two hits in 14:06 of ice time.
- Tanner Lacznyski missed tonight’s game due to a “family-matter” as head coach John Tortorella discussed it on Wednesday. Lacznyski missed tonight’s game due to the birth of his first child.
Result : Panthers 3 – Flyers 4 , WIN
Record : 5 – 2 – 0
Next Game : Saturday 10/29 , Carolina Hurricanes , Philadelphia PA , 7:00pm
PHOTO CREDIT: Len Redkoles – Getty Images
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