Game Two Of 56: Three Plus’s & One Minus from the Wells Fargo Center

A quick turnaround in games for the Flyers as they had their first Friday night game of the season. After a opening night full-filled with Joel Farabee putting an early ballot in the Art-Ross Trophy run, a power-play clicking with some extra help from the newest Flyer Erik Gustafsson, Gritty’s shenanigans and Carter Hart stopping pucks.

This was the second matchup of eight of the year against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Plus

Flyers Hot Red Start, Travis Konecny’s First Career Hat Trick

Oh how sweep it is! After scoring two in the first twenty’s minutes on opening night, the Flyers wanted more, they got one more. Three goals in the first period for the boys on Broad Street on Friday night. Travis Konecny got the shots flying and the party started with their third power-play goal, at the time, on what was Philly’s four power-play of the season.

Philadelphia, even though it’s been two games, has really moved the puck quickly on the power-play. On average according to my stop watch; Philly on the man advantage held the puck no longer than 7.3 seconds on the power-play in the first frame. If there isn’t a lane to shoot the puck at, the Flyers find a way to move the biscuit around.

A improvement from last season only if we are two games in. Nolan Patrick’s presence and the way he’s able to communicate with his line-mates presents a cool, calm, and collected group for the most part. Patrick really can read plays well and is quick to jump on every opportunity and of course he has skill.

One wasn’t enough for #11 though, as he quickly grabbed his second of the night and the period off a sweet breakout pass from Voracek that started it all fot the orange and black. They were off to the races.

It seemed as if the Voracek-Patrick-Van-Riemsdyk line crashed the net all game long and Philadelphia’s second goal of the night was a doozy but it started with a great defensive effort by Braun as Crosby was knocking on the doorstep. A beautiful Nolan Patrick deek at the other end allowed TK to bring it home. Hockey is a team sport and that goal was a team sport play.

But let’s talk about Ivan Provorov, shall we? Good on him for never keeping his eyes off the play, good sense and vision to see where the puck was and to finish it off a great pinch off a sweet pass from Voracek. #93 observed the playing field off a mad scramble of chances. Within three seconds, he was able to find Provorov who was pinching just above the blue line. Also, can we talk about that celly he did as well? What a beauty, baby.

Another note from the first twenty: Registering a helper on two of his team’s first three goals during their 1st period vs the Penguins tonight, Jakub Voracek has tied Mark Recchi for the 5th most career assists by one player and also ties him for the most among primary right wingers in Flyers franchise history at 395.

Great to see TK get the hat-trick on the power-play with less than ten minutes to go in the 3rd to ice it. Also can we talk about how good of a hat throw Gritty had from section #114? So glad, he put his clothes back on to begin the 3rd.

Five players were able to grab points in the first frame and other than a confusing defense collapse off a bad read; a red hot start continued. Two. Thumbs. Up.

Carter Hart

How many times have we said “Carter Hart is bailing out the Flyers again” Well, in the second frame of Friday’s game it was no different. Ten saves in that period and the Flyers defense was no where to be found. With the injury to Coots in the first period and how he didn’t return to start the second, his absence was very obvious. It felt like Philly gave up more than 500 odd man rushes and they were skating on quicksand just looked very sluggish.

But he’s Carter Hart and he’s elite. I’m sure AV had some words we can’t repeat in the dressing room during that frame. He really helped out the Flyers when they were on the PK. It needs work, there’s no secret. Thankfully Philadelphia doesn’t  play again until Monday so they’ve got some time to work, plus against the struggling Buffalo Sabres power-play maybe the boys can shine in that department.

Scott Hartnell

Like a lot of retired players in hockey, they try and attempt a broadcasting career and Scott Hartnell is no different. Tonight was the first game on NBCSNP and Flyers fans including myself were met with a nice surprise on our television screens just before puck-drop. Two Harts in the Flyers organization now? Holy moly! Hartnell provides great insight to the game and is always a joy to listen to.

His breakdowns were fantastic and praise of Philly’s Top six and net-minder Carter Hart felt natural and refreshing. Plus it seems like it’s here to stay. So thank you, NBCSNP and Scott Hartnell. Although did he say something that wasn’t family friendly? We won’t repeat it but just a friendly reminder Harts, you aren’t in a locker room anymore, but I’m sure he cracked a few smiles but got some words in his IFB after he said it.

Honorable Mention: Congrats to Oskar Lindblom scoring in his first two games of the season just like last season!

Minus: Injury?

Now we wait. The Flyers have officially hit the injury bug. After playing only just 120 minutes of hockey, the Flyers will have to possibly go to the bullpen after tonight’s game as Sean Couturier left the game early in the first period. Truth be told, it sucked the wind out of the Flyers the rest of the game.

Which will describe and discuss the fact that the Flyers struggled the entire game. He’s an invaluable center. Although it’s unclear his full injury and how long he will be out. It’s a next man up for AV’s club and if Coots is out on Monday against Buffalo, Morgan Frost could jump into in the lineup on Martin Luther King Day. Couturier will have an MRI on his shoulder and an update will follow in the coming days.

Of course lots of things could change. You could take Carsen Twarynski or Connor Bunnaman off the Taxi Squad. If I had a hunch it’ll likely be Frost. Morgan has a chance to make an impact here early for the Flyers and if indeed in the lineup we shall see if Philadelphia mixes things up with the lines just like how they had to juggle with them on Friday night.

Final thoughts on tonight’s 3-2 win: Hopefully the defense can get it together and not have Carter Hart keep saving the game for them, no pun intended. Can the Flyers keeping the man advantage going? There’s lots of questions to be answered by Monday’s game vs. Buffalo: How will the PK handle the Sabres struggling power-play. Coot’s status after the game? Can Philly have a sports team that starts 3-0? We will have all those questions in the days leading to the game, during and after Monday night’s game vs. the blue and yellow. Pittsburgh, see you in March!