Mike Knuble scored 118 goals in his time with the Flyers.
Now his son, Cole, is only 116 behind.
Cole, recently called up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, came up with his first two NHL goals on Wednesday night in his second game with Philadelphia to help the Flyers secure a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
It was the Flyers’ third straight win, and first on the road, after going 0-6-3 to start the season.
Knuble got the Flyers off to a quick start when he backhanded the rebound of an Oliver Bonk point shot home at 14:49 of the first period.
The game was being broadcast nationally on TNT network and cameras picked up Cole’s dad cheering up in the stands.
Trevor Zegras then made it 2-0 as the Flyers scored a power-play goal for a third straight game.
With time running down in the first period, Zegras was set up just outside the crease and was in position to bat the rebound of Matvei Michkov’s shot out of the air past goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with only 42.1 seconds left in the period.
In the second period, the Flyers had a five-on-three power play for 1:13 but could not convert. But then the Sabres did score on the power play with 34 seconds left in the period to cut the Flyers’ lead back to one.
However, it was Cole to the rescue in the third. He raced in, deked past Luukkonen and then banked the puck off the goaltender’s pad at 3:03.
Dan Vladar picked up the win in goal for the Flyers.
In a televised interview on TNT, Mike and Cole were interviewed by the postgame crew.
Mike, who was wearing a hat, said the lid would have hit the ice if Cole had completed the hat trick.
“If he gets the third, you’ve got to run down there,” said Mike of some good-natured nearby fans. “It would have been awkward but it was comin’.”
Cole was almost incredulous of his two-goal effort in just his second NHL two-goal game.
“It’s crazy,” Cole said. “I’ve been a fan of this team all my life. I’m just grateful to be part of this organization. They’ve been great to me since I’ve been drafted. So I’m glad I can contribute.”
Cole was asked if the two-goal game exceeded his expectations from an emotional standpoint.
“It was amazing,” he said with a laugh. “I wish I remembered it more. I’ve been dreaming that my whole life. I don’t know what to say.”
Mike said all the things you would expect from a proud father.
“You go to college (Notre Dame), then you turn pro,” he said. “You have your fingers crossed. You know he plays really hard, he competes, he’s always been smart. He gets the game, he understands the game. You’ve got to be blessed with good health, good fortune.”
>Tocchet’s take
During a break in first period action, Flyers coach Rick Tocchet was interviewed by TV analyst Brian Boucher.
Boucher asked Tocchet why the Flyers have started to turn things around after a slow start.
“Well, I think we’re just buying in, staying more disciplined,” Tocchet said. “Not taking as many penalties, better on the forecheck. . .at most facets of the game we’re getting better at.”
It’s taken a while but the Flyers are starting to get it.
“Our execution has been a lot better,” Tocchet said before the game. “We’re playing a lot faster. We’re still not there yet. But I think there’s a little bit more of a connection. Five guys on the ice kind of playing the same way.”
>Michkov’s improvement
It’s safe to say Michkov’s play has improved in all facets of the game this season.
Not only is he leading the team in offense (a leading five goals before Wednesday night’s game) but he’s been more responsible on the defensive side of the puck.
“I think his retrievals this year are a lot better,” Tocchet said. “You look at goals, coming off a rebound, he’s beating his check to the net. From the side, he’s reading (the play) and beating his check. The game’s all about beating your check. And I think that’s why he’s moving quicker this year.”
Tocchet showed some faith in Michkov late in the Colorado game. Michkov, who already had two goals and obviously trying for a hat trick, fired a long shot which missed the net and resulted in an icing call. Not the sort of play you want made in a tight game like that one.
“I didn’t put him out there for the hat trick,” Tocchet said. “We’ve got to win the game. It was more that we had used a lot of centermen in that three-, four-minute stretch. He was there, he was skating, just give him a little reward.
“You have to be careful with that play. But other than that, I thought he did a nice job.”
>Short shots
The Flyers next play host to the Anaheim Ducks in a Saturday afternoon home game. . .Tyson Foerster returned to action after suffering a recent hand injury. . .Bonk finished the game with two assists.
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