PHILADELPHIA – Like golf, in hockey it’s not how, it’s how many.
The Flyers followed that adage on Saturday night when they survived a rough third period, rallied from a 3-2 deficit in regulation time, then got a goal from Travis Sanheim at 1:25 of overtime to defeat the Ottawa Senators, 4-3, at the Wells Fargo Center. Cam Atkinson set up Sanheim’s winning goal off a two-on-one rush.
Philadelphia ran its points streak to five games (4-0-1).
The teams exchanged goals late in the game. Ottawa’s Artem Zub scored on a long shot at 13:43 for a 3-2 lead but Joel Farabee, just back after missing seven games with a shoulder injury, pulled the Flyers even just 52 seconds later. His wide-angle entry appeared to deflect off an Ottawa defender.
Oskar Lindblom, just a little over two years out from his original diagnosis for a rare form of bone cancer, enjoyed perhaps the best game of his 2021-22 season.
The Swede set up Claude Giroux’s first goal of the game (at 4:19 of the first period) with a nifty backhand pass from the end boards, then scored his own goal with a blast from the top of the right circle past goaltender Anton Forsberg at 7:32.
“I was behind the net and I saw ‘G’ was all by himself in front,’’ Lindblom said of the Giroux goal. “He doesn’t miss those. It hit his tape and so that is a goal.’’
Lindblom looked a little surprised his own 40-footer found the back of the net.
“I don’t think I ever had a one-timer that far out,’’ he said. “It was nice to see it go in.’’
Coach Mike Yeo was pleased to have Farabee back in the lineup and also with the continued success of Lindblom.
“He’s a young guy but he doesn’t play the game like a young player,’’ Yeo said of Farabee. “He plays the game on the right side of the puck, plays the game with structure. From a coach’s perspective, that’s the kind of guy you want on the ice. Getting him back was real big for us.’’
Farabee looked like he had never been injured.
“I felt really comfortable,’’ he said. “No issue with the injury.’’
It was Lindblom’s third goal in the last six games. He failed to score this season before the recent hot streak.
Later in the game, goaltender Martin Jones stopped a shot but the puck trickled through his pads and came to rest behind him just inches from the goal line. Lindblom had the presence of mind to swoop in and steer the puck from harm’s way.
Farabee said Lindblom is starting to look like the Lindblom of old.
“I thought he was one of the best players tonight (he was voted second star),’’ Farabee said. “When you have confidence, you can make that turnaround pass (to Giroux) which was pretty world class.’’
Lindblom was leading the team in goals back in December, 2019 when he was shut down. Now he’s starting to look like that player again. Being moved to a top line by Yeo might have helped in the confidence department.
The Flyers took that 2-0 lead into the second period but as is their wont this season, they let that margin slip away, this time in rather quick fashion. The Flyers entered the game a minus-12 (24 goals for, 36 against) in second periods this season.
Ottawa, which didn’t get a shot on net until 6:20 remained in the first period, came out with a rush in the middle frame.
First, Tim Stutzle powered his way past Rasmus Ristolainen and fired a shot under the crossbar at 2:09. Keith Yandle then had his pocket picked, allowing Alex Formenton to race in for a five-hole goal at 3:22.
In the overtime, Sanheim rushed the net and was in perfect position to take Atkinson’s pass. Pucks that were going wide of the net are now starting to go in for Sanheim.
“It probably started right after I scored that first goal (last week),’’ he said. “You can see I am taking that extra second to make plays. Holding onto pucks, rather than throwing them away.’’
>Giroux ties Barber on scoring list
Giroux’s goal was the 883rd point of his career, tying Bill Barber for second place on the Flyers’ alltime scoring list.
“What a great career he had,’’ Giroux said. “To be able to tie him right now is obviously a great honor.”
Playing with Lindblom certainly can help in the statistics department.
>Short shots
Ivan Provorov played his 400th consecutive game. He is 84 games away from Rod Brind’Amour’s ironman record. Provorov has never missed a game in his four-plus seasons with the Flyers. . .Goalie Felix Sandstrom was called up to back up Jones after Carter Hart took ill on Saturday morning.
