When the Flyers made the trip to Winnipeg in December, it took a third-period comeback to claim a victory. This time, the tables were turned. The Flyers carried a 3-2 lead into the third.
Just as they did on that December night, the Flyers closed the game strong, scoring two third-period goals to down the Winnipeg Jets, 5-2, on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center.
The Jets took the game's first five shots, but it was the Flyers who would score first. A shot from the left point by Michael Del Zotto handcuffed Michael Hutchinson. The rebound sat in the crease for Chris VandeVelde, who slid it past Hutchinson for his seventh goal of the season.
It took the Jets just 1:18 to answer. A turnover along the boards by Andrew MacDonald set up a long shot by Michael Frolik that was deflected by Mathieu Perreault. Steve Mason made the save on the deflection, but Perreault grabbed the rebound and scored.
The Flyers would re-take the lead at 11:39. A rush late on a power play featured precision passing by the Flyers, as Brayden Schenn fed Jake Voracek with a cross-ice pass. Voracek found a wide-open Wayne Simmonds in the slot and fired it past Hutchinson. Simmonds' 18th of the season gave him the team lead in goals.
The Jets would tie the game with a power-play goal of their own. Again it was Perreault who scored – his second of the game and 17th of the season – on a laser over the glove hand of Mason.
The Jets held the advantage in shots through 20 minutes, 14-10.
The second period featured more shots for the Flyers – 15 in favor of Winnipeg's 11 – but only one goal between the two sides.
A net-mouth scramble resulted in a goal as Nick Schultz jumped on a rebound for his first goal of the season and first as a Flyer. Petr Straka and Ryan White assisted on the goal – Straka getting his first NHL point and White getting his first as a Flyer.
In the third, the Flyers increased their lead to two. At 4:12, Simmonds capped off a brilliant individual effort with a centering pass to the slot. Brayden Schenn let go a one-timer that beat Hutchinson top shelf. It was Schenn's 11th goal of the season.
Mason was excellent in net for the second straight game. He stopped 36 of 38 shots, including several difficult saves. Hutchinson stopped 27 of 31 shots faced, but many were highlight-reel saves.
The Flyers penalty kill was solid as well. After allowing a power-play goal on the Jets first attempt, they killed the next four power plays for Winnipeg, including two in the third period.
The win extended the Flyers winning streak to three games and improved their record to 21-22-7.
Voracek had one assist to increase his point total to 58 on the season and extend his points streak to five games. Del Zotto also extended his point streak to five with an assist. Simmonds was the only Flyer with two points – a goal and an assist.
The Flyers look to continue their winning ways on home ice again on Saturday as they host the Toronto Maple Leafs. The opening face-off is set for 7 p.m.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
