Couturier Scores 2, Elliott Blanks Blackhawks in Flyers Win

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

On Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center, there was no dramatic comeback needed. Instead, the Flyers were much closer to the 60-minute effort they want to have and got the result for it.

Two goals by Sean Couturier and a 33-save shutout from Brian Elliott powered the Flyers in a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon.

Chicago came out as the better team in the opening minutes, opening up a 12-3 advantage in shots over the first 13 minutes of the period. Elliott made a few difficult saves to hold the Blackhawks off the board.  

The Flyers started to push back in the late stages of the period, and used a turnover to strike for the first goal for the sixth straight game. Duncan Keith turned the puck over with a pass right to the tape of Claude Giroux. Giroux remained patient and made a quick move on Corey Crawford before lifting a backhander into the net for his seventh goal of the season.

The Flyers outshot the Blackhawks, 6-1, in the final five minutes of the period. After 20 minutes, shots were 13-9 Chicago.

The Flyers carried the momentum of the late first period goal into the second, until a penalty call on Oskar Lindblom threatened the momentum.

Instead of the Flyers surrendering a goal to Chicago, the Flyers used a late chance to capitalize for a goal right after the penalty expired. Couturier got a breakaway chance and used strength to hold his position. He put a move on Crawford and tucked it in on the forehand to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead.

Shots were even, 21-21, after 40 minutes.

The Flyers got the benefit of a friendly bounce to extend the lead in the third. Couturier came in on a rush and took a shot that Crawford stopped with the pad. The rebound went to his left, hit the skate of Brandon Manning and the Chicago defenseman couldn't keep the puck from going into his own net. Couturier's second of the game and seventh of the season made it a 3-0 game.

With the game well in hand, the Flyers iced it with an empty-net goal from Nolan Patrick with 1:01 remaining.

Elliott took care of everything in goal, making several great saves throughout the game in a 33-save shutout. 

The Flyers penalty kill was 4-for-4, albeit with two abbreviated power plays for Chicago, the first time in 10 games they did not allowed a power-play goal.

Both Giroux and Couturier had three-point games. Giroux's second point, an assist on Couturier's first goal, moved him into fourth place all-time in Flyers history, passing Rick MacLeish.

The Flyers get back to action on home ice on Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers. Game time is at 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PHI Claude Giroux (7) (Unassisted) 14:56

2nd Period

• PHI Sean Couturier (6) (Giroux) 9:12

3rd Period

• PHI Couturier (7) (Giroux, Ivan Provorov) 4:16
• PHI Nolan Patrick (5) EN (Couturier) 18:59

Game Statistics