PHILADELPHIA – After such a terrible 1-5-1 start, it’s almost hard to believe the Flyers have evened their record at 8-8-2 and own one of the top eight spots in the Eastern Conference.
A decisive 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night became the latest conquest.
The Flyers have gone 4-0-1 in their last five games.
Credit for this one starts with the goaltending of Ivan Fedotov, who recorded his third straight win. Both of the goals he allowed came after the Flyers had taken a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Russian netminder continues to look composed, as he did in victories over Tampa Bay and Ottawa.
Also of note, Tyson Foerster scored from short range and seems to be finding his shooting eye again.
For Fedotov, it seems like it took some time to get accumstomed to the pace and the angles of North American rinks before he became comfortable with his day-to-day performances.
What’s been the big difference since the slow start? Perhaps more steady work?
“It feels more comfortable when you’re playing game by game,” he said. “Especially when you can find a way to keep your team in and stop the puck. Day by day you feel much better. When you play one game and then you have a break for a week, of course, you have to find a way.
“(I’m) more focused on the puck. Just keep my routine. I’m not a young guy, I don’t want to make a lot of changes. That’s why I just keep my way. Now, I’m more concentrated on the puck. Not losing a moment. Be ready for everything.”
Coach John Tortorella doesn’t hand out praise easily but he does see improvement in Fedotov’s game.
“It’s still a small sample size, he’s played really well,” the coach said. “He’s played really well three games. I think he certainly feels more comfortable. He looks the part. He’s just got to stay within himself and keep on playing.”
A goal by Egor Zamula at 2:08 of the second period gave the Flyers a 3-0 edge and pretty much decided the outcome.
Zamula’s shot from above the left circle appeared to deflect into the air and bounced past goaltender Devon Levi.
Just to remove any doubt, the Flyers scored again at 17:07 when the teams were playing four aside.
Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny found themselves on a two-on-0 breakaway. Matvei led the charge, then dropped the puck to Konecny for a dunk past Levi.
Apparently upset with the turn of events, Buffalo’s Zach Benson took out his frustration by ramming Michkov into the boards well after the puck went into the net.
Sticking up for his teammate, Konecny went after Benson and made sure the Flyers weren’t going to put up with that nonsense.
Fedotov’s shutout bid was ruined at 10:06 of the third when Travis Sanheim went off on a questionable penalty call. On the power play, Buffalo broke through with a goal from Rasmus Dahlin.
It was all Flyers in a first period which saw them take a 2-0 lead on goals by Foerster and Sanheim.
Sanheim’s goal was noteworthy because it came on the power play, a part of the Flyers’ offense which has struggled a bit in recent competition.
A shot by Sanheim from the top of the right circle eluded Levi. This goal came after one by Foerster, who knocked in a loose puck in the crease after shots by Joel Farabee and Anthony Richard.
“We just got a couple loose puck battles,” Foerster explained in a first intermission interview. “We ended up winning them. Lucky enough ‘Beezer’ (Farabee) had a nice pass off the pad there and we had a couple guys in front and I was lucky enough to bang it in.”
Foerster said the Flyers play confidently, regardless of who is in goal.
“We just play the right way,” he said. “We end up with some good results.”
After Buffalo scored to close the Flyers’ lead to 4-2 in the closing minutes, Konecny scored with 17.2 seconds to play into an empty net.
>Zamula’s status
Tortorella acknowledged Zamula, who was a plus-2 to somewhat brighten what was a rather seasonal minus-9, has been playing better but needs to speed up his game.
“The biggest thing for ‘Z’ is, and it’s been a constant conversation, is just the speed the speed of the game,” the coach said. “He gets caught from behind a lot. He doesn’t seem the game quick enough to move it. The speed of his mind is what needs to improve in his game.”
>Richard rolling along
Anthony Richard had another strong game, with two assists and a plus-two.
He’s waited a long time for this opportunity, more than eight years, and now he’s making the most of his chance. Two goals, six points in just five games.
“The first game in Tampa I was a little nervous,” he said. “Tonight I think I took another step. More calm with the puck. It’s what happened when you play a lot of games in a row. You just get used to it.
“I’m playing with great players, like Michkov. (Noah) Cates is always good with his stick. It helps my game. Forechecking is one of the reasons I got to pro hockey. The last couple years I feel like my offensive game has come a long way.”
>Short shots
The Flyers resume action on Monday when the Colorado Avalanche hit town. . .Goaltender Samuel Ersson is still getting over an injury so Aleksei Kolosov dressed as backup goalie once again. . .Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson played in his 1,000th NHL game.
