PHILADELPHIA – It took Sean Couturier more than a month to get his milestone 200th NHL career goal but the wait was worth it.
Everyone from his coach John Tortorella to his teammates had praise for the team captain after Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the Wells Fargo Center.
Couturier converted a nifty pass from Matvei Michkov at 7:13 of the second period and the 200th was finally in the books.
It was a special moment for the longest-tenured active Flyer who has always put playmaking ahead of goal scoring.
Tortorella said Couturier has shown patience and tenacity over the past few seasons, which have been rocky due to injuries, etc.
“You have to give him credit,” Tortorella said. “Having all the injuries (which sidelined him for a season and half). All the time he missed. Knock on wood, he continues to stay healthy.
“He’s been inconsistent (only nine goals) this season. But he keeps on trying to find his game. I thought he made some good plays tonight.”
Couturier seemed relieved that he doesn’t have to answer any more questions about the big goal.
“I still believe in my offensive capabilities,” Couturier said. “Throughout my career, I’ve never really cheated (on the defensive side of the puck). I just try to play the game the way it comes at me.
“I get to play with two great offensive players (Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov). It (the 200th goal) is something I’m proud of. There’s been a lot of downs the last couple years. It (the milestone) has been great but I’ve gotten a lot of help from teammates, coaches to get there. I hope I can score maybe another hundred.”
Couturier seems to have found a home on the line with Michkov and Tippett. Maybe this unit will stick together down the stretch.
“He (Michkov) makes plays that a lot of guys can’t make,” Couturier noted. “You just have to be ready in open ice.”
>Kuzmenko pleased with power-play goal
New Flyer Andrei Kuzmenko took advantage of an excellent Travis Konecny pass to score a power-play goal late in the second period to give the Flyers an important two-goal lead.
He was all smiles as he talked about the play in post-game comments. He broke not one but two sticks on the play.
Initially, Kuzmenko broke his stick, rushed to the bench, went to get another, then put the puck in the net as a second twig snapped.
“Stick, stick, stick, I was shouting,” Kuzmenko said with a laugh. “Can you please, please, please. . .”
Finally he grabbed the second stick and all’s well that ends well.
