Scott Laughton puts on a show in the Flyers win over Detroit

Scoring four goals in a game will win it for you most of the time. But how about when all four goals come from one player? After a more than convincing win over the Blue Jackets, the Flyers let Scott Laughton handle business against the Red Wings.

Laughton entered the game with three goals on the season. He more than doubled that against Detroit.

The Scott Laughton show

Laughton entered Thursday night's game with three goals on the season. His last had come on Nov. 27, a stretch of six games without a goal. Before that, his previous two goals came on Oct. 17. Laughton isn't going to be a high scorer for Philadelphia. His career-high was the 18 he scored in 2022-23. But he's a player you can't help but root for.

Despite multiple years of trade rumors, Laughton has spent his entire career with the Flyers. He's the type of player with respect from the entire locker room. There's a reason the Flyers haven't cashed in on trading him. So when a player like him can have a big night, it's a cause for celebration.

He kicked it off in style and at a needed time for Philadelphia. The first period was somewhat of a drag for both sides, even as the Flyers outshot the Wings 12-7. Cam Talbot was making the saves he needed to, keeping Philadelphia off the board. The team found their legs even more, pounding more dangerous shots toward Talbot. So why not try a slapshot on a breakaway to get things going?

Sometimes it works.

In true Laughton fashion, his second goal was of the shorthanded variety. Last season, the Flyers were one of the best teams at scoring while on the penalty kill. They haven't been able to replicate that success this season. But it was a familiar sight to see Laughton and Travis Konecny team up for one early in the third period. It was only their second shorthanded goal of the season.

Since 2022-23, Laughton has led the league with 17 shorthanded points. Konecny is behind him with 15 points. The goal was the 100th of Laughton's career and couldn't come any better way.

His final two goals were much easier as they came with an empty net. But the third goal was a crucial one as the Wings had broken through Aleksei Kolosov late in the third period. With the score 2-1 and a face-off in their zone, Laughton and Noah Cates were able to win the board battle to help get the puck out.

It was the second hat trick of Laughton's career, his first since a game against the Capitals in 2021.

But why stop there? The Wings emptied the net again to try and get back into it. On a give-and-go with Garnet Hathaway, Laughton tried to give it to his teammate for the goal. However, Hathaway wasn't going to pass up the chance for Laughton to finish the night with four. If that doesn't show how this team feels about Laughton, nothing will.

He became the first Flyer to score four goals in a game since John LeClair did so in 2002.

Aleksei Kolosov claims backup role

John Tortorella gave the nod to Kolosov as the Flyers' number two goaltender before the game on Thursday. And it's safe to say that he answered the call in a big way. He didn't have to make a ton of saves at first, only facing seven shots apiece in the first and second periods.

But sometimes that can be tough on a goaltender when you aren't seeing the puck as much. Detroit made sure to change that in the third period. Kolosov made it to nearly 3:30 left in the game before he allowed the only goal that Detroit would score. That close to his first career shutout, the Flyers' rookie goaltender didn't let that get him down.

The one goal was the fewest Kolosov has allowed in a game during his short NHL career. He now has four wins after losing his first four games. He helped the team gather at least a point in four of his last five outings.

He made a game-saving save not long after the Wings got on the board. He finished the night with 25 saves on 26 shots and proved that Tortorella made the right decision. Things can change in this league, but it was a good way to start after being given that amount of trust.

The Flyers will have a day to celebrate this one before they travel to Minnesota to take on one of the league's best in the Wild on Saturday afternoon.