PHILADELPHIA – It’s downright scary (pardon the Halloween pun reference) how well Trevor Zegras is playing right now.
Zegras scored two goals and assisted on Jamie Drysdale’s game-winner on Thursday night in the Flyers’ 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Flyers ran their home record to 6-1 despite being outshot in this game and moved up to fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.
The only down note was an injury suffered by captain Sean Couturier. He was struck by friendly fire off the stick of Drysdale late in the first period and did not return to action.
There was no immediate available information from the Flyers regarding the nature or extent of Couturier’s injury.
Goaltender Dan Vladar picked up the win in goal for the Flyers. He has yet to allow more than two goals in any of his six starts this season.
Zegras has now recorded points in each of his first seven home games in a Flyers’ uniform, leaving him one game off the team record of eight, shared by former Flyers Peter Forsberg and Peter Zezel. He leads the team in scoring with 12 points.
He might be a showman on the ice and he’s a modest one off it. All in a night’s work for this unexpected Philadelphia sports star.
“I just try to play a good game every time I go out there,” Zegras said. “Feed off my teammates that are doing the right thing. Another big two points at home.
“The fans are unbelievable. So fun to play in front of them. They bring so much good energy. It’s awesome.”
Coach Rick Tocchet has come to rely on Zegras as one of his chief offensive weapons. Getting Michkov, who assisted on the first Zegras goal plus the Drysdale goal, has been helpful, too.
“He was great, he was the difference-maker,” Tocchet said. “We were kind of asleep for a couple periods. I call him our ‘human smelling salts.’ He was really good.”
After a scoreless first period, Zegras went to work. He took a feed from Michkov, skated to the top of the slot and sent a shot past goalie Juuse Saros at 12:45 of the second.
Zegras was in on the action again on the Flyers’ second goal. This time he got the puck to Michkov behind the net. In turn, Michkov spotted Drysdale open outside the left post and his shot eluded Soros.
Nashville got one back with 1:57 to play. Owen Tippett’s soft clear attempt failed to get past the blue line. The Predators reset and Matthew Wood ended up sending a short short beyond Vladar’s reach.
But in the third, Zegras was back at it again. While on the power play, Zegras took a pass from defenseman Cam York and beat Soros from long range.
Those two seem to be developing some chemistry of their own.
“It (Zegras’ shot from the point) was not a great one-timer,” Zegras said with a grin. “I don’t want to go throwing stones but me and Cam are going to have to (talk).”
These two grew up together in southern California so there’s a built-in friendship.
“It’s definitely pretty special,” Zegras said. “Being out there with him and connect on a couple here and there…”
Drysdale seemingly appeared out of nowhere to get what proved to be the winning goal. It’s not often a defenseman scores a goal 10 or so feet from the net. But Michkov found him.
“It didn’t know where he (Drysdale) was!” Zegras joked.
Drysdale added: “It definitely feels nice but it was ugly. It just squeaked in. Sometimes you just have to go with that.”
Travis Konecny scored an empty-netter with 4:06 to play.
A scoreless first period saw the Flyers get only three shots on the Nashville net. The Predators produced 10 and put a lot of pressure on Vladar.
The Flyers took two penalties which actually fall into the category of “smart play.” First, Drysdale hooked a Predator cutting across the crease on a play which easily could have resulted in a goal.
Then, with only 2.7 seconds left in the frame, Bobby Brink also prevented a goal by interfering with a player closing in on Vladar from short range.
>Michkov’s play picks up
Michkov entered the game with just three points but nearly doubled that with his two assists. Slowly he’s recovering his game and his training level which was hampered by an ankle injury during the summer.
“Feel good,” he said. And that’s all you need to hear to know he’s starting to feel like his old self, going back to last year when he led the team in goals with 26.
>Vladar streak continues
This was Vladar’s sixth start of the season and he’s yet to allow more than two goals in any of them. “I’m pretty confident right now,” he said. “But it’s best to stay humble all the time.
“Obviously I’m trying not to get to high from it (the goal limit streak). Keep working hard, there are 82 games (in the season)…”
Most of the Flyers credited Vladar for the win.
“It was mostly an ugly game,” Drysdale said. “You know, ‘Vlady’ made some unbelievable saves. He really kept us in it.”
Short shots
Samuel Ersson’s 10 shootout wins are the second-most in the NHL since 2022-23. Only the Blues’ Jordan Binnington’s 11 are better. . .The Flyers play the fourth game of their five-game homestand on Saturday when the Toronto Maple Leafs hit town.
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