Flyers beat Devils in defensive battle, 3-1

Bobby Brink

 

NEWARK, N.J. – Considering it was a game against a Metropolitan Division bonafide contender, the Flyers were anxious to see how they measured up in Saturday afternoon’s game against the Devils at the Prudential Center.
Judging by the outcome, they passed with flying colors.
Bobby Brink scored the game-winner with 7:16 to play on a power play. Travis Konecny added an empty-net goal with two seconds to play.
With a 3-1 win, the Flyers extended their streak of games with at least a point to five (4-0-1).
The Flyers held the Devils to a season-low 14 shots. New Jersey’s previous low was 16 shots against Edmonton in a 3-0 win back on Nov. 4. It was also a season low for shots allowed by the Flyers this season. Their previous low was 17 vs. Toronto.
A total of a season-high 33 blocked shots and some stellar defensive play made life a little easier for winning goaltender Samuel Ersson and brought a smile to coach John Tortorella’s face.
“You never know what happens in these afternoon games, they don’t give much anyway,” said Tortorella, mindful that his players had only 18 shots of their own.
“We’re just trying to check. Weird how the game turned out. Game of patience and we found a way.”
Ersson continued his string of strong performances.
“He’s certainly steadied himself,” Tortorella said. “Not a lot of action for him. We had 30-plus shots that we blocked. He looks more confident and hopefully it will continue.”
Brink liked the way his team gave Ersson a lot of protection.
“You’re not going to give up a lot when everyone is playing within their structure,” Brink said. “We did. Guys blocked shots and that led to success for us.”
Matvei Michkov’s breakaway goal at 1:56 of the second period evened the score at 1-1.
Sean Couturier started the sequence by intercepting a Luke Hughes pass high in the Flyers’ defensive zone. Couturier sent Michkov in on a high-speed rush and the Russian made no mistake against Allen.
Couturier knows that when Michkov gets his hands on a puck in open ice, it’s almost a sure thing.
“We’re still adapting to each other,” Couturier said. “Still building chemistry. He’s a fun player to play with. He’s got a lot of offensive skill. Can make plays out of nothing. I’m just trying to make it as easy as I can for him. I think we’re getting better every game.”
The Devils took a 1-0 lead in the first period. New Jersey defenseman Dougie Hamilton waited for a screen in front of Ersson and then deposited a long shot at 2:17.
After that, the goalie was just about perfect.
Ersson seems to have found his rhythm after a downturn around the end of the 2024 calendar.
Before, a goal allowed would seem to rattle him. Not now.
“You’re going to allow goals,” he said. “You have to know how to handle it. After every goal, just re-set.”
He appreciated the way the Flyers sacrificed their bodies on a lot of the New Jersey shots.
“We play like that, that’s the way this team is,” he said. “That makes us so good when we’re good. They’re just putting everything on the line. That makes my job so much easier. Great job by everybody.”

>Laughton moves back to center

With Ryan Poehling still out of the lineup due to upper-body injury in Thursday night’s game at the Islanders, Olle Lycksell took his roster spot and Scott Laughton returned to the center spot on the fourth line with Lycksell and right wing Garnet Hathaway.
Laughton has played most of his career so the switch back to the pivot was really not that big a deal.
“It’s probably where I’m most comfortable,” Laughton said before the game. “Nice to go back to the middle. Probably a couple more touches but I have to key in and think about the D-zone a little bit more. It’s a lot more work.”

>Short shots

The Flyers’ next opponent, the Detroit Red Wings, hit town on Tuesday. In two previous games this season, the teams have split. The Flyers won the first meeting, 4-1, on Dec. 12 at the Wells Fargo Center. Four nights later, the Red Wings prevailed in Detroit, 6-4. . .Noah Cates played in his 200th game; Couturier needs one goal to hit the NHL career 200 mark. . .The Devils had a goal by Jesper Bratt early in the third period disallowed by an offside call.

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About Wayne Fish 2701 Articles
Wayne Fish has been covering the Flyers since 1976, a stint which includes 18 Stanley Cup Finals, four Winter Olympics and numerous other international events.