Flyers Use 3-Goal 2nd to Down Senators

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Throughout the third period, the scoreboard flashed updates of the score between Columbus and the New York Islanders, showing a 1-0 deficit for Columbus. By that point, the Flyers had carved out a 3-1 lead on the lowly Ottawa Senators.

The Senators made things interested with a late goal, but the Flyers held on for a 3-2 win. Coupled with Columbus' 2-0 loss to the Islanders, the Flyers moved to within three points of a playoff spot with the win.

The Flyers came out with some early chances but missed the net. Ottawa had five of the first six shots on goal in the game and capitalized for the game's first goal.

A point shot by Ben Harpur was tipped in the high slot by Chris Tierney and skipped past Brian Elliott to give Ottawa the lead at 9:48.

In the last half of the period, the Flyers outshot the Senators, 9-1, but were not able to solve Craig Anderson. After 20 minutes, shots were 10-6 Flyers.

The Flyers picked up where they left off in the second half of the first period with a dominant second, outshooting the Senators, 15-5. They scored three goals to take control where it counted too.

It took just 2:02 for the Flyers to get the game tied. A shot by Shayne Gostisbehere deflected twice, hitting both Sean Couturier and Oskar Lindblom before going in. It was Lindblom's 13th goal of the season.

Four minutes later, a great hustle play by Nolan Patrick set up Michael Raffl in front of the net for a tip-in to make it 2-1. Raffl picked up his sixth goal of the season in his 400th NHL game.

With 36.7 seconds remaining in the period, the Flyers padded the lead off a rush as Scott Laughton buried a chance from the slot for his 11th of the season to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes.

The Flyers maintained the early pressure after killing off a power play for Ottawa in the first three minutes of the period. From there, it shifted to puck possession and solid defensive play.

The Flyers did pay for a defensive lapse late in the period as Filip Chlapik got a chance from the slot and scored to cut the lead to one with 2:57 to play.

The Flyers finished the game on the power play, holding off the Senators in the final 30 seconds after they got the goalie pulled.

Elliott finished with 20 saves on 22 shots. Anderson stopped 33 of 36 shots.

Raffl finished with a goal and an assist as the only Flyers with a multi-point game.

The Flyers get back on the ice on Thursday night when they take on the Washington Capitals. Game time is 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• OTT Chris Tierney (8) (Ben Harpur, Rudolfs Balcers) 9:48

2nd Period

• PHI Oskar Lindblom (13) (Sean Couturier, Shayne Gostisbehere) 2:02
• PHI Michael Raffl (6) (Nolan Patrick) 6:02
• PHI Scott Laughton (11) (Travis Konecny, Raffl) 19:23

3rd Period

• OTT Filip Chlapik (1) (Zack Smith, Thomas Chabot) 17:03

Game Statistics