Seeking their second win on the season, the Philadelphia Flyers faced the Senators on the road in Ottawa.
After a blowout loss and the hands of the San Jose Sharks, the Philadelphia Flyers came into tonight’s game wanting to put that game behind them. Calvin Pickard opposed Craig Anderson in his first start of the season and for the Flyers. Head coach Dave Hakstol also made a line-up change, subbing Dale Weise in for Jordan Weal.
The Flyers and Senators traded power-play opportunities to begin the first period, but neither could score on the man advantage. Ivan Provorov took a tripping penalty a few minutes later and Brady Tkachuk recorded his first goal on the season giving Ottawa an early 1-0 lead. The Flyers had a power-play opportunity of there own soon after, but couldn’t capitalize. Later on in the period, Weise drew a hooking penalty and the Flyers tied the game after Jakub Voracek deflected a Shayne Gostisbehere shot passed Anderson. Pickard had 13 saves on 14 shots to end the first.
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Nolan Patrick left the Flyers bench in the 1st period and did not return to the game due to a upper-body injury. The Senators had left over power play time to start the second, but the Flyers killed it off. Ottawa, then, took a 2-1 lead after Tkachuk scored his second goal of the game. The Flyers answered back on a goal from Sean Couturier. Voracek netted his second goal a couple minutes later and the Flyers led Ottawa 3-2. Radko Gudas had primary assists on both of the goals. Jori Lehtera took a roughing penalty after Alex Formenton put a late hit on Oskar Lindblom, and the Senators tied the game back up at three on a goal from Maxime Lajoie. After a big scrum in front of the Ottawa net and multiple penalties were given, Scott Laughton regained the lead for the Flyers on a big rebound from Anderson.
The Flyers had another power-play opportunity to start the third period. Shortly after the Senators killed it off, Robert Hagg scored on a deflected pass from Michael Raffl and gave the Flyers a 5-3 lead. Weise also assisted on the goal, and had two assists on the night in his season debut. Claude Giroux tallied his first goal of the year on, you guessed it, the power play and gave the team a three goal lead. Giroux is now riding a four game point streak to start the season. After yet another penalty in the game, Ottawa got within two after Lajoie scored his second goal on the evening. Laughton would seal the deal on an empty-netter and the Flyers won 7-4 over the Senators.
Voracek lead the team in scoring, registering five points (Two Goals, Three Assists) in the game. He was one of four players to score two goals in the game. Pickard was good enough in his Flyers debut, making 31 saves on 35 shots.
We’ll have to wait and see on the severity of Patrick’s injury, but this was a great way to bounce back after Tuesday’s loss to San Jose. This victory should install some much needed confidence within the team. The Flyers are now 2-2 on the year, and next game is a Saturday matinee against the Vegas Golden Knights!