Flyers Score 4 in 2nd, Roll Past Vegas

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

In their previous two games, the Flyers put 91 shots on net and managed just four goals. In a second period where they were out-shot, 17-12, the Flyers matched that goal total. Hockey's a funny game sometimes.

The Flyers took any issues they had finishing and put them to rest for the night on Monday, handily defeating the Vegas Golden Knights, 6-2, at Wells Fargo Center to snap a four-game losing streak.

Much like Saturday's game, the Flyers struck for an early goal. After getting an early power play, Travis Konecny started and finished a rush, taking a cross-ice feed from Oskar Lindblom that banked off a Vegas skate and firing it high to the glove side of Oskar Dansk to make it 1-0 Flyers at 4:15.

The Flyers failed to score on another power play in the period. In the late stages of the period, both teams generated chances as action opened up. Reilly Smith hit the post for Vegas and Brian Elliott stood tall against quality chances for Jonathan Marchessault and a wave of chances by Vegas late. The Flyers had two great shifts to close the period. After 20 minutes, shots were 15-7 in favor of the Flyers.

For the early part of the second, Vegas continued to push with some quality chances and Elliott kept the Flyers close. 

At the six-minute mark of the period, the Flyers were able to break it open.

From behind the net, Kevin Hayes emerged and tucked in a wraparound on the backhand for his second goal of the season to make it 2-0. Just 44 seconds later, Ivan Provorov's shot was tipped by Michael Raffl and in to make it 3-0.

Following a successful penalty kill, the Flyers came back with two more quick goals. On a power play of their own, Sean Couturier set up Matt Niskanen with a cross-ice pass for a one-timer. Niskanen's second of the season made it 4-0.

Just 55 seconds later, Lindblom finished on a two-on-one with Raffl to make it 5-0.

Through two periods, the Flyers had a 27-24 edge in shots.

The Flyers took two penalties early in the third, giving Vegas a 5-on-3 for 1:36. With just 22 seconds remaining on the first penalty, Vegas finally cashed in. Mark Stone set up Marchessault on the doorstep for the goal to get the Golden Knights on the board.

With the teams at 4-on-4, Reilly Smith cut into the Flyers lead with a breakaway goal, his seventh of the season.

The Flyers answered that tally with another goal by Raffl, who got a breakaway of his own and made a nice move to beat Dansk for his second of the game and third of the season.

Elliott finished the game with 32 saves on 34 shots. Dansk stopped 30 of 36 in the loss.

Raffl finished with three points. Konecny and Lindblom each had two points. There were 13 different Flyers that finished with a point. 

The Flyers get back on the ice on Thursday night as they travel to Chicago to face the Blackhawks. Game time is 8:30 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PHI Travis Konecny (4) PP (Oskar Lindblom, Shayne Gostisbehere) 4:15

2nd Period

• PHI Kevin Hayes (2) (Scott Laughton, Jake Voracek) 6:12
• PHI Michael Raffl (2) (Ivan Provorov, Mikhail Vorobyev) 6:56
• PHI Matt Niskanen (2) PP (Sean Couturier, Konecny) 14:24
• PHI Lindblom (4) (Raffl, Travis Sanheim) 15:19

3rd Period

• VGK Jonathan Marchessault (2) PP (Mark Stone, William Karlsson) 3:15
• VGK Reilly Smith (7) (Nick Holden) 13:30
• PHI Raffl (3) (Chris Stewart) 15:38 

Game Statistics