Flyers Memories: Voracek’s Top 5 Moments
The Philadelphia Flyers continued their flurry of offseason moves when they dealt right-winger Jakub Voracek to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Cam Atkinson on Saturday.
Voracek spent ten seasons in Philadelphia. He is tenth in franchise history in points, fifth in assists, and tenth in games played.
He was considered a core member of the franchise for the majority of the past ten years alongside teammates Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier and former teammate Wayne Simmonds. He also developed a reputation as a popular personality in the Flyers dressing room.
The fan favorite mantra didn’t necessarily apply to him, and, at some point, he became the poster boy for fans looking for the team to “shooooot” on the power play. However, he is 15th in the NHL in points since being acquired from Columbus in 2011. He also tied for the team lead in points in 2020-21 with 43.
Although general manager Chuck Fletcher’s decision to move on stylistically helps the Flyers moving forward, Voracek’s offensive production will be missed in Philadelphia.
He had some great moments in orange and black, and he saved his five best for one opponent that never fails to catch the attention of Flyers fans.
5. Fight Against Rob Scuderi
January 20, 2015- Flyers 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (OT)
Voracek enjoyed arguably his best career season in 2014-15, but the Flyers limped through a terrible first half on the wrong end of the Metropolitan Division standings. They finally gave fans something to cheer about with an old-fashioned bloodbath against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
During the second period, Voracek retaliated to a low hit by chasing down former Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi for a fight.
The Flyers responded to the emotion of one of their best offensive players dropping the gloves, as well as three other second period fights. They used the energy to beat a superiorly talented rival team on an overtime goal from Giroux.
4. Exchange with Reporter
January 15, 2021- Flyers 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 2
Although it certainly wasn’t a high point, Vorcek’s exchange with Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer was the most commonly brought up answer when the Broad Street Buzz Twitter account asked fans for memories from his tenure.
A supposed disagreement between the two during the previous season boiled over in a virtual post-game press conference after an early season victory, and Voracek ripped Sielski with a few expletives.
Winger Travis Konecny, who was sitting right next to Voracek, unsuccessfully tried to contain his laughter.
3. Hat Trick Seals Wild Victory
February 20, 2013- Flyers 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 5
The rivalry between the Flyers and Penguins has produced some hectic, emotional, and ultimately entertaining hockey games. The absurd trends of the rivalry during this time period included high-scoring shootouts where no lead was ever safe.
The Flyers suffered an opening day loss to the Penguins in the lockout shortened 2012-13 season and got behind 2-0 just over seven minutes into the second matchup. The lead was quickly erased before the first intermission.
Voracek scored late in the second period to put the Flyers up 3-2 and again in the opening minutes of the third to extend the lead to two. Coincidental minors on Evgeni Malkin and Couturier helped spark another turn of the tides, as the Penguins rallied to a 5-5 tie with just 2:03 remaining in regulation.
Just 32 seconds later, Voracek finished off the Penguins by completing the hat trick. The Flyers walked away with a 6-5 victory.
2. Stadium Series at Lincoln Financial Field
February 23. 2019- Flyers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3
The NHL Stadium Series at Lincoln Financial Field played out as expected for about 55 minutes of regulation play. An early goal by Sidney Crosby quieted a raucous crowd, and a fluky goal by Malkin off the mask of goalie Brian Elliott looked like it had put the game out of reach at 3-1 in the waning minutes. Flyers fans anticipated yet another loss the three-time recent Stanley Cup Champions.
The tides turned in the blink of an eye.
First, the Flyers got back within one on a power play goal from James van Rimsdyk with just over three minutes to go.
With Elliott pulled at the opposite end, the Flyers knotted it up 3-3 with just 19 seconds left in regulation on a bouncing puck shot by Voracek from the corner that just barely squeaked by goaltender Matt Murray.
The Flyers captured an emotional overtime win, the highlight of an otherwise forgettable 2018-19 season, with an overtime winner off the stick of Giroux.
1. Game 1 Comeback, OT Winner
April 11, 2012- Flyers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3
The Penguins were lauded as the NHL”s most dangerous team entering the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs after Crosby had returned from injury and recaptured his dynamic form.
The Flyers, however, owned the Penguins during the regular season in a rivalry that had reached its maximum capacity of animosity. The Penguins, with hindsight, would’ve rather avoided their rivals in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
The most uncanny playoff series in NHL history started with a Pittsburgh onslaught in the first period of Game 1. They took a 3-0 lead behind a goal and an assist from Crosby in front of a jubilant home crowd.
The Flyers rallied on the back of forward Danny Briere (and the absence of sensible officiating) and forced overtime.
Just 2:23 into the first overtime period, Voracek slammed home a rebound off the pads of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. The 22-year-old celebrated his best moment with Philadelphia in a remarkable 4-3 comeback win.