Flyers, behind three goal first period, defeat Coyotes

Photo courtesy of Kate Frese

The Philadelphia Flyers used goals from Scott Laughton, Claude Giroux, and Sam Gagner in the first period along with outstanding goaltending from Michal Neuvirth to defeat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.

Scott Laughton put the Flyers ahead 1-0 at 9:30 of the first period. Laughton took a pass from Nick Cousins and went in on a breakaway. He beat Luois Domingue through the five hole for hia sixth of the season. Mark Streit picked up the other assist. 

The Flyers went to the power play just a few seconds later when former Flyer Nicklas Grossmann was called for holding. The Flyers were unable to capitalize with the man advantage and the game remained 1-0.

Brad Richardson would get Arizona on the board at 13:31 of the oopening period. Richardson finished a partial two on one for his seventh of the season. Shane Doan and Max Domi picked up the assists.

Claude Giroux would make it 2-1 with his 17th goal of the season. The captain scored at 17:41 of the period on the power play. Brayden Schenn and Streit picked up the assists. The goal was the 500th NHL point for Giroux.

Just 40 seconds later Sam Gagner made it 3-1 Philadelphia with his fifth of the season. Streit picked up his third assist of the period along with Sean Couturier. 

Michal Neuvirth stopped 11 of 12 shots in the period and the Flyers led 3-1 after twenty minutes.

Both teams would exchange power plays throughout the second period. Neither team was able to capitalize. Both teams had decent chances but both goalies stood tall. Neuvirth made 12 saves while Domingue made nine. With 20 minutes to play, the Flyers still held the 3-1 lead. 

Oliver Ekman-Larsson made it 3-2 just 6:33 into the third period. It was the 19th of the season for the Ekman-Larsson. Mikkel Boedker and Michael Stone. 

The Flyers ttok the play to Arizona following the goal and had numerous chances but could not get one home until the final stages of the period.

At 17:15 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare made it 4-2 with his fifth of the season. Bellemare tapped home a loss puck following a Wayne Simmonds shot. Schenn picked up the other assist. 

That would be all she wrote and the Flyers picked up the 4-2 victory. Michal Neuvirth made 30 saves in the win.

The Flyers are in action next on Monday when they host the Calgary Flames.

Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074.