PHILADELPHIA — It wasn't the most conventional goal one can score, nor was it the prettiest.
Yet ultimately, Michael Raffl's tip-in goal at 16:47 of the first period helped lift the Flyers (14-12-6) on Thursday to a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Fired by Evgeny Medvedev from the blue line, the puck was tipped up over Jakob Markstrom, hit the crossbar, and rapidly popped in and out of the net.
Considering how fast play was moving, it had the appearance of glancing off the crossbar. Play was not blown dead until seconds later. Video review confirmed the puck crossed the goal line, and the goal stood.
On the other end of the ice, Steve Mason was brilliant, turning away all 36 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. Despite a strong three games from Michal Neuvirth, coach Dave Hakstol still committed to Mason as the Flyers' number-1 goalie. That commitment paid dividends, and Mason was rewarded with his first shutout since Nov. 28.
The Orange and Black stayed largely even in shots with the Canucks (11-14-8) as the second period started, but the Canucks were able to take the shots lead — firing a total of 16 in the second stanza. Yet they weren't able to get the better scoring chances, and thus lost the third-consecutive game of their six-game road trip.
Sean Couturier's fifth goal of the season at 17:10 of the third gave the Flyers a necessary insurance marker. Almost immediately after, the Canucks pulled Markstrom for an extra attacker, and the Flyers were not able to score on the empty 4-by-6 frame.
The Canucks were also forced to play a man short for the majority of the game. Henrik Sedin, who has long been a Flyer killer with 21 points in 16 career games against the Orange and Black, left with a lower-body injury early in the second period and did not return.
Both teams were also scoreless on the power play, and also failed to cash in on separate 5-on-3 advantages. The Flyers were scoreless on four powerplays, while the Canucks missed out on three. Markstrom, filling in for Ryan Miller, saved 29 of 31 pucks.
The win was the Flyers' first against the Canucks since Dec. 30, 2013, and snaps a three-game losing streak. It was also their first win over the Canucks at Wells Fargo Center since Oct. 12, 2011.
Also with the win, the Flyers have leap-frogged Pittsburgh for fifth place in the Metropolitan Division, with 34 points. The Penguins, in the midst of a 3-4-3 skid in their last 10 games, sit one point behind.
Next up for the Orange and Black is a divisional matchup in Ohio, as they travel to Columbus for a matchup with the Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
