After stumbling through some early road game woes this season, the Flyers are officially back on track away from home.
That was evident after the team swept a two-game road trip, including Thursday night’s 3-1 win over the Predators at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The Flyers began the season going winless (0-2-1) in their first three road games. Now they’re even at 2-2-1.
It was a slow start for Philadelphia (8-5-1), as it trailed by a 1-0 score at the conclusion of the first period. But the road team turned things around in the second.
A brilliant keep-in by Travis Konecny along the boards on a clear attempt by Nashville led to the Flyers’ second and winning goal.
Konecny, who scored the third goal in the final couple minutes of the game, got control and slid a pass to Jamie Drysdale, racing down the slot. Drysdale’s shot was stopped by goalie Juuse Saros but Cates pounced on the rebound and drove a shot into the net with 2:23 left in the second period for the Flyers’ first lead of the game.
Goaltender Dan Vladar picked up the win for the Flyers. He allowed in a goal in the first two minutes, then slammed the door shut.
“I thought after the first goal, we played a little better hockey after,” he said. “I think we deserved to win today. We play for each other, we’re tight. We’re not going to quit. We’re happy we came out of it (road trip) with a huge four points.”
The reconfigured line of Noah Cates, Konecny and Bobby Brink (Tyson Foerster is injured) was clicking on all cylinders.
“We had some good jump,” Cates said in a televised second period interview. “We had some good keep-ins at the blue line.”
As for the emotional tone of the game, Cates preached caution.
“Keep the sticks down,” he said. “Keep your emotions in check.”
After trailing by a goal at the first intermission, the Flyers finally got untracked in that second period.
Matvei Michkov scored just his second goal of the season at the 4:43 mark. Taking advantage of a strong rush by Cam York, Michkov sent a short shot past Soros to end a nine-game goal drought.
The Flyers were somewhat fortunate to get out of the first period down only 1-0. At one point, Nashville had a 9-1 advantage in shots.
Philadelphia defenders were pinballing around in the first 10 minutes as the Predators were able to set up shop in front of Vladar on numerous occasions.
Nashville needed only 1:54 to get a puck into the net. A point shot deflected off Drysdale’s leg, then grazed Ryan O’Reilly before floating past Vladar.
The Flyers had several good scoring chances, none more opportune than Travis Sanheim’s breakaway at 4:34. Sanheim tried a couple deke moves but Soros was up to the task.
During a first-period televised interview, Sanheim said the first period was not satisfactory.
“They had extended zone time,” Sanheim said. “Anytime you spend a lot of time in your own zone you’re going to give up chances. Just nowhere good enough for us.”
Sanheim made it clear what the Flyers had to do to get back on even ice.
“Just get back to our game,” he said. “Making cleaner, simpler plays. Get in on the forecheck.”
After the game, Cates said playing with new linemates doesn’t really matter.
“It’s just kind of the depth,” Cates said. “The different talent that we have on this forward group. A lot of guys really gel well together. So much speed, so much skill on the wings. When you put guys together and you spark something new, it’s fun and exciting.”
A big character win in coach Rick Tocchet’s eyes. Especially the penalty kill unit, which stopped the Predators cold on a power play with the clock winding down under seven minutes in the third.
“I think the PK all year has been giving us some juice,” he said. “It’s done a nice job. Montreal had a nice power play (on Tuesday). They (the Predators) had a couple elite power plays and we killed them. That was a big difference in the game.
“We had a tough start and sometimes you don’t rebound from that. To get out of there (the first period) down 1-0, that was big.”
>Abols returns, Ersson activated
With Rodrigo Abols back in the lineup after one game off due to injury, center Jakob Gaucher was returned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Also, goaltender Samuel Ersson, on IR for the past week, was activated.
>Short shots
The Flyers are back in action on home ice Saturday afternoon, 1 p.m., when they play host to the Ottawa Senators.
Former player, coach and general manager of the Flyers Paul Holmgren was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night.
Cates ended a seven-game goal drought. . .Brink made integral plays on both of the Flyers’ first two goals but at least two other players touched the puck before the shooters scored so Brink did not receive credit for an assist on either scoring play.
Vladar raised his career record against Nashville to 5-0-1.
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