Voracek’s 3rd Period Tally Lifts Flyers Over Canucks

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers moved Jake Voracek to a line with Sean Couturier and Oskar Lindblom with the hopes of getting him back into the scoring column and being a more productive player. In the last two games, Voracek has not only snapped a goal-scoring drought, but picked up timely goals at that.

Voracek broke the ice in a scoreless game against Calgary on Saturday in the last half of the second period. On Monday, he scored the deciding goal with 8:33 remaining in the third period, helping the Flyers to a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Wells Fargo Center.

The first period was a tight-checking affair with limited space to work with for both sides. The Canucks scored the only goal of the period by capitalizing off a turnover.

J.T. Miller poked the puck away from Michael Raffl and Bo Horvat gained control. Horvat put a turnaround pass back to Miller at the side of the net and the quick release beat Carter Hart to make it 1-0 Vancouver at 10:34.

The Canucks out-shot the Flyers, 9-8, in the opening period.

The Flyers came out in the second period and had another dominant middle frame in terms of possession and shot totals. The Flyers outshot the Canucks, 17-4, in the middle period and generated chances right from the start of the period.

At 5:54, they finally got the game tied. Out of a scramble at the side of the net, the puck sat perfectly in the slot for Couturier, who lifted the rebound off the post and in to tie the game with his seventh goal of the season.

The Flyers continued their dominant puck possession in the third. They also killed off a Vancouver power play early in the period to keep the game tied.

Finally, with 8:33 remaining, the Flyers were able to get the lead. Justin Braun jumped up on the play, carrying the puck behind the net. He centered for Voracek, who fired a one-timer from the left circle that hit the post and went in to make it 2-1.

The Flyers were able to keep applying some pressure for the remainder of the third. In the final seconds, they needed one big save from Hart, a chance in close from Josh Leivo that the goaltender swallowed up. 

Hart made just 16 saves on 17 shots in the win. Thatcher Demko made 32 saves on 34 shots in the defeat.

Voracek and Couturier each had one goal and one assist.

The Flyers return to the ice on Wednesday night as they travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets. Game time is 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• VAN J.T. Miller (10) (Bo Horvat) 10:34

2nd Period

• PHI Sean Couturier (7) (Jake Voracek, Robert Hagg) 5:54

3rd Period

• PHI Voracek (6) (Justin Braun, Couturier) 11:27

Game Statistics