Flyers-Jets: Postgame Review

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Carter Hart and the Flyers picked right back up where they left off before the break.

The result was a fourth straight win, a 3-1 defeat of the Winnipeg Jets that started off slow, but finished solid and steady.

More in our Postgame Review.

Postgame Points

1. Carter Hart – Let's start with the netminder. Hart got a tune-up game in the AHL on Saturday and made 20 saves in the first period, holding the Bridgeport Sound Tigers off the board and even though he took the loss in a 4-1 defeat, he looked like the break hadn't produced any rust.

   Hart was just as steady again on Monday night, making 31 saves for his seventh win of the season and fifth win in the last six games. The only goal he allowed was off a deflection that went downward, bounced off the ice and skipped upward over his pad. There's nothing you can do about those kind of crazy bounces.

   Otherwise, Hart was impressive, especially late in the first period when the Jets had a power play and the top unit got set up. It was pretty obvious the play was going to either Patrik Laine or Mark Scheifele. Both got quality scoring chances from point blank range. The 20-year-old in goal won the battle.

   Hart will be getting a night off on Tuesday, but he probably will get the start on Thursday in Boston, a team he defeated prior to the break, making 39 saves in the process, and again on Saturday, when Connor McDavid and the Oilers come to town. If Laine and Scheifele were good tests for the kid, then how about more All-Stars in David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and of course, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

2. James van Riemsdyk – JVR just continues to heat up. He was on the ice for the Flyers second goal and scored the third, his 13th of the season to continue his pace entering the break. 

   JVR has really started to fit into his role, being around the net. Playing on the top line has made a big difference and it shows. His solid play was rewarded with a late goal off a turnover he created.

3. Nolan Patrick – It was just two weeks ago that Nolan Patrick was in a 24-game goalless drought. He scored two goals that night against Minnesota. He scored two more in Montreal. Suddenly, the confidence had returned.

   Patrick did not factor into the scoring on Monday against Winnipeg, but he continued to play with the confidence and attack that he started to display when the Flyers were last on the ice. The points will come with that approach. In addition, Patrick looked very good defensively.

   Playing a 200-foot game isn't easy and many players get so caught up in the offense, they don't realize how many plays can be created from the defensive end. Patrick has rounded his game out nicely of late, and that's a welcome sign for a player that a lot of people had started to sour on as the Flyers were in free fall mode.

4. Rolling Four Lines – The Flyers got two goals from the top line and one from the fourth line — Phil Varone scored first for the Flyers. Interestingly enough, the two lines that produced goals were probably the worst two lines.

   Worst is used loosely there, because the Flyers rolled all four lines very well and got a lot out of each trio. The second line of Oskar Lindblom, Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek was buzzing throughout the night. The third line of Patrick, Wayne Simmonds and Scott Laughton was generating chances as well.

   It wasn't until late in the second that the top line started to really announce its presence in the game when Travis Konecny scored. Still, having the luxury of rolling four lines and getting production out of each is a bonus, especially against such a solid team like Winnipeg.

5. Ivan Provorov - With the late lineup change, the Flyers had to scramble and that mean more ice time for Ivan Provorov. This was one of Provorov's best showings of the season. He played sound defense, getting 28:03 of ice time, and finishing the game with five blocked shots and four hits.

   Provorov has not played to the level expected this season, but this game was a step in the right direction. Even zone exits and subtle plays with the puck went a long way for Provorov and that's where he needs his game to be.

By the Numbers

The second period was picture perfect for the Flyers at 5-on-5. They dominated shot attempts, 25-10, out-chanced Winnipeg, 14-5, and outscored them, 2-0. Winnipeg's goal in the period came on the power play. 

Stat of the Game

Christian Folin was thrown into action with the absence of Shayne Gostisbehere due to injury, literally arriving on the bench as the anthems started. He finished the game with an assist, two hits and two blocked shots in 9:12 of ice time.