Broad Street Buzz
Fansided

Atkinson’s hat trick lifts Flyers past Devils

By Jaxson Webster

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Cam Atkinson #89 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game for the hat trick during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Wells Fargo Center on December 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Cam Atkinson #89 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game for the hat trick during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Wells Fargo Center on December 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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Cam Atkinson’s hat trick helped lift Philadelphia to a 6-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Tuesday night also marked the Flyers first home win since November 16th.

THE GOOD

3 STRAIGHT: After losing their first two games of the season against the Devils, the Flyers closed out the season series with a commanding 6-1 win. It was also the first time Philadelphia beat Mackenzie Blackwood in regulation. Blackwood was 8-0-2 against the Flyers before Tuesday night.

SANHEIM GETS HIS FIRST: It had been awhile for Travis Sanheim, but he finally got on the board on Tuesday. Rasmus Ristolainen fired a shot that was cast away by Blackwood, Sanheim battled, toe dragged PK Subban, and fired a rather weak goal by the stick of the Devils’ goalie. It was his first goal since April 27, 2021, also against Blackwood.

TIC-TAC-ATKINSON: The Devils must have forgot Cam Atkinson was even on the ice. After both teams traded slashing penalties to make it four-vs-four, Sanheim made a pass back to Ristolainen who saw Atkinson on an island to the left of the goal. Atkinson controlled the puck and easily beat Blackwood before his friends came a celebrated with him on the island.

KNUCKLE PUCK TIME: Blackwood might have missed his ophthalmologist appointment because he didn’t see Justin Braun’s knuckle shot at all. The puck fluttered over the net-minder’s right shoulder and into the net with no trouble at all. It should have been an easy save and instead it gave the Flyers a 3-0 lead with 14-minutes left in the second period.

THE DAGGERS: With the Flyers on the penalty kill, the Devils made a bad pass off the boards that was intercepted by Ivan Provorov. The defenseman found Atkinson at center ice for a two-on-one. Atkinson looked off Oskar Lindblom and continued his great game by clapping a slap-shot by Blackwood for his 11th goal and his second shorthanded goal of the season. Lindblom was feeling a little left out after he was looked off so he scored shortly after for his second goal of the year and gave the Flyers a 5-1 lead heading into the third period.

HATKINSON: Last but not least, Atkinson capped off his great night with his third goal to make it 6-1 (pun intended). Giroux looped around the net and found number 89 crashing for his seventh career hat trick.

THE BAD

FROST OUT?: Morgan Frost left Tuesday night’s game early and would not return. There is no word of the severity of the injury yet.

GIVING IT BACK: In the Flyers last game against the Arizona Coyotes, they allowed a goal under a minute after James van Riemsdyk scored the first one. A similar situation happened on Tuesday. After Braun’s goal gave the Flyers a three goal lead, PK Subban scored under a minute later to make it 3-1. That was really the only blunder for a Philadelphia team that had an all around great game.

Up next, the Flyers will head to Canada to take on the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

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