PHILADELPHIA – One of the first things the Flyers wanted to do this season was re-establish the old home-ice advantage.
Years ago, opponents developed a case of “Flyer Flu” when they visited the old Spectrum.
One season, the Flyers went an amazing 36-2-2 in that visitors’ house of horrors.
This season is only nine games old but after Tuesday night’s 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers are an admirable 5-1-0 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. At least they’re showing signs of improving over recent seasons.
Bobby Brink and Matvei Michkov scored in the shootout to offset Evgeni Malkin’s goal.
The overtime preceding the shootout was rather eventful as each team had a goal overturned.
First the Penguins had a goal disallowed. Then an apparent Tyson Foerster goal with 32 seconds to play was waved off due to an offside call.
Coach Rick Tocchet, knowing his team is in the midst of a nine-out-of-10-game homestand, said it’s time “to make hay.”
“Let’s face it, the schedule is in our favor,” he said. “Our travel hasn’t been too crazy. But we’re going into four (games) in six (days). You have to give the guys credit. We’re putting some good games at home together.”
Playing with a certain aggressive style, the Flyers cooled off the Penguins who entered the game 7-2-1, good for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Brink’s shootout goal turned out to be the game-winner. He said a game like this can sort of rekindle an old rivalry.
“I mean emotions were high,” Brink said. “Score a goal in OT there that gets called off. A hard fought effort all game and it kind of boiled over there at the end.”
Brink said goalie Sam Ersson is tough on solo shooters, be it shootouts or breakaways.
“He’s an elite in the shootout,” Brink said. “I see it in practice almost every day. Maybe one of the toughest goalies in the league to score on in the shootout.”
Ersson seems to stay his coolest in pressure moments.
“It’s a big win for the team,” he said. “And for myself included.”
Shootouts are right up his alley.
“You got a chance, as a goalie, to have a big impact on the outcome of a game in a shootout. You’ve got to love those moments. It helps that we (the team) are really good in the shootouts as well. We scored two (goals in this game), two in the other. It makes my job easier.”
Sidney Crosby’s fortunate bounce goal at 11:57 of the third period tied the score at 2-2. Crosby’s close-in shot at the goal post eluded Ersson, starting his second straight game.
Travis Konecny’s 200th career goal provided the Flyers with a 2-1 lead at 2:46 of the second period.
On the play, the Flyers had an odd-man rush and Konecny skated to the right faceoff dot before sending a hard shot past Arturs Silovs. Konecny became the 17th player in Flyers history to achieve the 200-goal mark.
After the Flyers fell behind in the first period by a 1-0 score, they rallied to tie with a power-play goal from Brink.
With Philadelphia on the power play, Silovs made an initial save on Noah Cates’ short-range shot. But Brink raced in, pounced on the rebound and lifted it over the sprawled goalie for his third goal of the season.
Pittsburgh picked up a goal from Justin Brazeau to take the early lead. Brazeau eluded a Konecny check and when Ersson failed to guard the near post, the Penguin poked the puck in the net.”
Cates indicated these kinds of rivalry games can get the juices flowing.
“It’s a division opponent, kind of a gritty one,” he said. “Be up in the third, gave it up, but we stuck with it. A huge win, a good two points for us.”
>Konecny proud of his 200th
“It’s a nice milestone to reach,” Konecny said of his special goal. “Got a nice picture of all the guys in the room who were in there because you can’t get to that if you don’t have great teammates.”
>Cates praise for Luchanko
Jett Luchanko went back to his junior team, Guelph, on Monday. Several Flyers, including Cates, said they see a bright future for the 19-year-old.
“Getting a few games with us I think will be huge for him,” Cates said. “He can go back to junior, play a lot, get stronger and all that stuff. He’s in such a good spot, he’ll be ready to play in the NHL soon enough.”
>Short shots
In Luchanko’s absence, Nick Deslauriers was back in the lineup on a fourth line with Rodrigo Abols and Garnet Hathaway. Also, Nikita Grebenkin was a healthy scratch. . .The Flyers play the third game of their five-game homestand on Thursday when they take on the Nashville Predators.
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