So long, 10-game skid — Flyers can exhale thanks to gutsy win in Vegas

Share

With the clock having ticked past midnight on the East Coast, the Flyers finally put their losing streak to bed out in Las Vegas.

Behind a gutsy effort Friday, the Flyers beat the Golden Knights, 4-3, at T-Mobile Arena to snap their troubling 10-game skid.

The Flyers (9-12-4) received a dynamite performance from Carter Hart, while Kevin Hayes, Max Willman, Sean Couturier and James van Riemsdyk provided the goals.

General manager Chuck Fletcher and company were desperate for a win. The Flyers were fighting a hellish stretch in which they fired head coach Alain Vigneault and assistant coach Michel Therrien on Monday following an eighth straight loss. The consecutive defeats piled to 10 before the Flyers went into Las Vegas and scratched and clawed to earn their first win since Nov. 16.

Now that they're off the schneid, can the Flyers build on this victory? That's the big question ahead for interim head coach Mike Yeo and his club.

The Golden Knights (15-11-0) had their three-game winning streak snapped.

• Hart matched his regular-season career high in saves with 41. He was big time for the spiraling Flyers in a tough building.

The 23-year-old goalie put up his 10th performance of 30 or more saves. He had only eight such performances all of last season.

Hart held off Vegas in the third period with 16 stops. The Flyers committed three penalties in the final 10 minutes of the game and allowed a power play goal. They worked hard to close the door.

Hart made a massive save 3:50 minutes into the game. Given the club's battle with confidence, the Flyers could not afford to fall down early in Las Vegas. Hart and then Rasmus Ristolainen prevented them from doing so.

Thirty seconds later, Hayes answered on the other end to hand the Flyers a crucial 1-0 edge. 

Including the playoffs, the Flyers improved to 32-3-2 when Hayes scores a goal.

Golden Knights backup Laurent Brossoit denied 21 of the Flyers' 25 shots.

• The Flyers have always gone to another level when van Riemsdyk is producing.

Couturier and van Riemsdyk entered with only one goal apiece in the past 15 games. They both delivered much-needed power play markers in the third period as the Flyers took a 4-2 lead.

With an assist on Couturier's tally, Claude Giroux became the Flyers' all-time leader in power play points (334), eclipsing Hall of Famer Bob Clarke (333).

• Before he went on to score the go-ahead goal, Couturier was stitched up and survived an injury scare.

The first-line center did not come out for the start of the second period but returned a little after the midway mark of the frame.

Couturier's wrist was cut by a skate when he took a draw with 1:10 minutes left in the opening stanza. Couturier was seen holding his left arm in the air as he exited.

Twenty-one seconds following the faceoff, the Golden Knights tied the game at 1-1. The Flyers were broken down without Couturier on the ice.

Willman's goal — the first of his NHL career — was timely as it gave back the Flyers their lead just under six minutes into the second period when they didn't have Couturier.

• Ristolainen played a terrific defensive game. The Finnish defenseman had six hits and four blocked shots.

• Both teams entered with rough power play numbers.

The Flyers came in at 13.9 percent but finished 2 for 3. Vegas came in at 13.6 percent and went 1 for 6.

• Kevin Connauton, who the Flyers claimed off of waivers Tuesday, debuted with his new club in place of Nick Seeler. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound defenseman was solid in 12:39 minutes.

His defensive partner Keith Yandle recorded two assists, both on the power play.

Derick Brassard returned to the Flyers' lineup Wednesday after missing six games because of a hip issue but he was back out Friday. Willman entered the lineup for Brassard, who clearly needs some more time.

The Flyers have Jackson Cates on the trip as another available forward.

• The Flyers are right back at it Saturday when they visit the Coyotes in Glendale, Arizona (9 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

Subscribe to and rate Flyers Talk

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | YouTube

Contact Us