PHILADELPHIA – If there was any danger of the Flyers looking past Buffalo to Sunday’s showdown with NHL-leading Colorado, it didn’t materialize in Wednesday night’s game against the Sabres.
The Flyers scored three goals in less than a minute midway through the first period for a 3-1 lead and went on to a 5-2 win at Infinity Mobile Arena.
Pending the outcome of the Washington at San Jose game, the Flyers’ win moved them within one point of the Metropolitan Division lead.
In a scoring outburst similar to one they generated in a game against the New Jersey Devils back on Nov. 22, the Flyers connected for multiple goals in a short span during the opening period to take a commanding lead.
Flyers goaltender Sam Ersson was tested early but stood up to most challenges and protected the lead.
Coach Rick Tocchet went back to his original power-play first unit of Jamie Drysdale, Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett and Trevor Zegras and they connected for two goals on five attempts. Prior to that, the team went three-for-27 with the man advantage.
“At least we’re shooting the puck,” said Tocchet, mindful the Flyers’ 35 shots were the second most this season. “We’re getting more shots from the middle. It was good for us tonight.”
Added Zegras: “Those guys are amazing players. I just tried to do what I can.”
Overall, four of the Flyers’ five goals were scored from in front of the net and that’s something the coach has been preaching.
“It’s getting better,” Tocchet said. “It has to be habitual, like happen all the time. We have to get people to the net.”
Back in the Jersey game, the Flyers scored a team-record three goals in 26 seconds. Against the Sabres, they nearly duplicated that feat, connecting for three in 59 seconds.
Travis Konecny led off the parade with a power-play goal at 8:26, erasing a 1-0 Buffalo lead created by a Jason Zucker goal. Konecny fired a shot through a screen past goalie Colten Ellis at 8:20. The Sabres challenged the goal, claiming goaltender interference on Tippett but upon review, the goal stood.
Just 38 seconds later, Zegras scored to put the Flyers ahead. Then, at 9:25, it was Bobby Brink’s turn to hit a fairly open net and the Flyers took a 3-1 lead into the intermission. Buffalo picked up only four shots in the first period.
The first 20 minutes made for an encouraging outcome, according to Tocchet.
In the second period, the Flyers outscored the Sabres by a 2-1 margin to build a 5-2 lead.
First, Noah Cates tipped in a Bobby Brink entry at 1:45 just seconds after a Buffalo penalty expired to make it 4-1. Then, after the Sabres cut the margin to 4-2, Tippett responded by banking in the rebound of his own shot at 12:43.
After a deflating loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night, the Flyers regrouped well.
“Honestly, two points after last game, I was really happy about that,” Tocchet said. “I still think we ran around too much when the pressure was on. There are certain things we have to clean up. We have to communicate more.”
Tippett agreed with that assessment.
“Nice bounce back after last game,” Tippett said. “Have a couple days off (until Sunday vs. Colorado) to fine-tune some stuff. That was a good start.”
>Cates, Brink reunited
With Tyson Foerster out for a couple months, Tocchet decided to reunite Cates and Brink. The chemistry was evident right off the bat.
“Those two guys have been playing together for a year now,” Tocchet said. “Wanted to see if they could get the chemistry (back).”
Nikita Grebenkin was the third piece of the line.
“Showed a lot of talent, a lot of hard work,” Brink said of Grebenkin. “Won his battles (and finished a plus-1). Made a lot of good plays.”
Tocchet couldn’t find any fault in Grebenkin’s game.
“He sat awhile because we had five power plays,” Tocchet said. “What I liked about it is that he sat for three or four minutes and he went out there and (skated well). . .that’s hard to do.”
Brink obviously likes playing alongside Cates.
“Yeah, great player,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of good games together. Good to be back with him.”
Brink finally broke out of a one-point-in-12-games slump.
“Yeah, it’s not fun scoring one point in 12 games,” Brink said. “It’s only one game. Probably should start scoring more in other games, too.”
>Dahlin tossed for Zegras hit
Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin put a cheap-shot hit on Zegras late in the second period. Zegras was hit from behind and was slow getting up with 3:10 left in the period. Dahlin got a five-minute major for boarding plus a game misconduct and could receive further discipline from the NHL.
>York suffers injury
Flyers defenseman Cam York suffered an upper-body injury, left the game with 3:10 left in the second period and did not return.
According to Tocchet, York was behind the Flyers net when the mishap occurred.
>Short shots
The Sabres had what they thought was a goal disallowed with 7:09 to play. The Flyers called time out and challenged the goal for offside and won it. . .The Flyers are off until Sunday afternoon when they play host to Colorado. The Avs have an incredible record of 19-1-6. . .The Flyers held the Sabres to just one power-play goal in six attempts.
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