Aleksei Kolosov backstops Flyers to third straight win

On the tail end of a back-to-back and a busy four games in six days, the Flyers had one more game before a much-needed break. And because they hadn't played enough hockey, their game against the Blues needed an extra period.

The Flyers have needed overtime or more in eight of their last 12 games. They've played the most overtime games in November. And they can thank the heroics of Matvei Michkov for getting them the win in more than one of those.

But first, how did we get to that point? The first period started slow as both teams got their feet under them. While the Flyers had played the previous afternoon, the Blues had been off since Wednesday, and it showed in the first frame.

When a goal is needed most, one player tends to step up in those moments. After Morgan Frost chipped the puck out of the zone, it was Owen Tippett and Michkov on the break. The latter held onto the puck and waited until the last possible second to send it over. All Tippett had to do was have his stick on the ice to tap it into the open net.

That goal held up for the rest of the first period and the entire second. Aleksei Kolosov was destined to stop every puck that was coming his way. He had to face numerous odd-man rushes throughout the game. But Dylan Holloway finally beat him over 11 minutes into the third period.

The Flyers answered 51 seconds later. After Bobby Brink was denied by the post and part of Jordan Binnington's glove, Tyson Foerster followed it up to regain the Flyers' lead.

Having to go with the extra attacker, the Blues ended up in a 6-on-4 situation with a penalty to Travis Konecny. Kolosov made the first two saves in tight, but Jake Neighbours was able to slide it past the sprawled-out goaltender to tie the game with 20 seconds remaining.

The Flyers didn't need much of the overtime to find the winner. With Robert Thomas crashing toward the net, Konecny dove across and sent the puck flying out of the zone. And who else but Michkov was sent on a breakaway and just got it past the skate of Binnington for the game-winner. His three overtime winners are tied for the most ever by a teenager.

Aleksei Kolosov stands tall

A day after Ivan Fedotov went toe to toe with Igor Shesterkin, it was Kolosov who had to face Binnington on the other side. His counterpart was honored before the game for becoming the Blues franchise leader in wins. He showed why with numerous impressive saves, including robbing Sean Couturier with a wide-open net.

But Kolosov showed why he's been successful in his last few games. He finished the game with 25 saves on 27 shots, keeping the Blues away for the majority of the game. There were numerous chances for the Blues to get back into the game much earlier than they did. If not for Kolosov, this could've been a much different game.

Kolosov has consistently shown a calm demeanor in the net and hasn't gotten frustrated when the game isn't going his way. Players want to play in front of a goaltender who gives it their all just as much as they do. It was a rocky start for Kolosov when he first came up, but he's quickly gaining the trust of everyone around him.

With the looming return of Sam Ersson, Kolosov is making a hard decision on what to do when that moment happens.

Contributions come from struggling forwards

In a game that featured star players living up to the hype, it was those who have been struggling to contribute that played a key role for the Flyers. Both Tippett and Foerster are looked at as two players who should be providing offense for Philadelphia. Each player came into the game against the Blues with four goals on the season.

Tippett hadn't scored in five games and only had one point during that span. Foerster was in a similar boat, though he had two points before the goal. Providing offensively can spark confidence in any player, but Tippett especially is one of those players who feel more involved in the game when he can hit the back of the net.

He didn't have to do anything but keep his stick on the ice when Michkov was able to expertly slide the puck across to him. But when a player isn't feeling confident in his abilities, sometimes something as easy as that can change things. It helps being partnered with someone like Michkov, though, who can make those incredible plays look easy.

Foerster's goal not only came at a perfect moment but encapsulated the grit and effort it takes to make him successful. His shot can be a powerful one when he's able to wind up and blast one. But if he can bully his way to the front of the net with the size he possesses, he can find a way to keep being a contributor at this level. Foerster did that with the assist on Brink's goal against the Rangers.

And he used that effort to quickly regain the lead back against the Blues. And his emotion afterward showed how much he wants to be a positive factor for this team.

The Flyers will get some extremely needed time off after their third straight win. They will not have to take the ice again until Thursday, where they'll welcome in the Florida Panthers.