Patrick Scores Deciding Goal as Flyers Down Coyotes in Shootout

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The week in Philadelphia sports started with something that felt so improbable: the Eagles winning Super Bowl LII for their first Super Bowl title. The Flyers capped off a week where the rest of the city seemingly fed off that success with an improbable result of their own: a shootout win.

It took seven rounds in the shootout, but Nolan Patrick scored to give the Flyers the 2-1 decision in the shootout and a 4-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night.

The Coyotes struck first in the game, taking early advantage of a Flyers turnover. Arizona was able to cycle the puck quickly and get the puck on net. It was Jason Demers shooting on Brian Elliott and beating him low through the legs to give Arizona the lead at 3:53 of the first.

The Flyers eventually responded on the power play. Some quick passing set up the goal, as Jake Voracek threaded a pass across to Claude Giroux for the one-timer to tie the game.

Less than two minutes later, the Flyers were on the board again. Jordan Weal made a great pass in the neutral zone to keep the play alive to Scott Laughton. Laughton got the puck to Michael Raffl and he rifled a shot high over Antti Raanta to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead.

The Flyers carried the 2-1 lead through the first 20 minutes of play, leading in shots, 16-10, after the first.

Arizona wasted no time tying the game back up to start the second. Alex Goligoski managed to get a shot through Elliott on the stick side just 24 seconds into the period to tie the game at two.

The Flyers had a quick answer again. Back on the power play, Shayne Gostisbehere fired a shot through a screen and Wayne Simmonds was perfectly positioned for the deflection to put the Flyers back in front with his 19th goal of the season.

Arizona heavily controlled the rest of the period from there, outshooting the Flyers, 12-8, in the second, but the Flyers escaped with a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes.

Once again, the Coyotes struck for an early goal in the third period. Off another sloppy defensive zone play, Zac Rinaldo fired a pinpoint shot past Elliott to tie the game just shy of two minutes into the period.

From there, the Flyers took control of the play, outshooting the Coyotes, 16-4, in the period. They had several close chances in the closing stages of the period, but couldn't find a way to beat Raanta and get the go-ahead goal and the game went to overtime.

Like a flip of the switch, Arizona took control in overtime, keeping the Flyers hemmed in their zone for most of the session, including a near two-minute shift for Voracek and Gostisbehere. The Flyers managed to survive, then got a couple of chances of their own late.

Despite all of the zone time for both sides, both teams had just one shot in the overtime and the game went to a shootout.

In the shootout, the wildness of the first 65 minutes continued. Nick Cousins scored on Arizona's first attempt with Weal being stopped the other way. Clayton Keller missed the net and clipped Elliott with his stick going by. Elliott went down immediately and needed help getting off the ice, forcing Michal Neuvirth to come off the bench to finish the shootout.

Neuvirth got a break with Brendan Perlini's chance, as he whiffed on a shot. Voracek tied the shootout on his attempt in the third round, extending the shootout.

Both goalies handled the attempts from there, as three more rounds came and went. Finally in the seventh round, Nolan Patrick took his chance on Raanta and fired a shot to the top right corner, ending the shootout and giving the Flyers their first win in the skills competition this season.

It also marked the third straight win for the Flyers and with some help from other results, vaulted them to third place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Flyers announced postgame that Elliott actually suffered a lower-body injury on the shootout attempt by Keller and a further update will be available when the team returns to Philadelphia following their game on Sunday night.

Neuvirth, on the other hand, made NHL history with his appearance, becoming the first goalie to enter a game during a shootout and win. Five other times in history had a goalie entered during a shootout, but all were in losses.

Elliott stopped 24 of 27 shots in the game prior to the shootout. Raanta made 40 saves on 43 shots.

Gostisbehere finished the game with two assists, the only player with multiple points in the game. 

The Flyers close out the road trip with their first ever meeting against the Vegas Golden Knights. Game time is set for Sunday night at 8 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• ARI Jason Demers (4) (Derek Stepan, Clayton Keller) 3:53
• PHI Claude Giroux (17) PP (Jake Voracek, Shayne Gostisbehere) 10:19
• PHI Michael Raffl (10) (Scott Laughton, Jordan Weal)

2nd Period

• ARI Alex Goligoski (6) (Niklas Hjalmarsson, Christian Fischer) 0:24
• PHI Wayne Simmonds (19) PP (Gostisbehere, Sean Couturier) 2:12

3rd Period

• ARI Zac Rinaldo (4) (Max Domi) 1:59

Overtime

• No Scoring

Shootout

• ARI Nick Cousins – Goal
• PHI Jordan Weal – Save
• ARI Clayton Keller – Miss
• PHI Travis Konecny – Save
• ARI Brendan Perlini – Miss
• PHI Jake Voracek – Goal
• ARI Derek Stepan – Save
• PHI Claude Giroux – Miss
• ARI Tobias Rieder – Save
• PHI Sean Couturier – Save
• ARI Niklas Hjalmarsson – Save
• PHI Michael Raffl – Save
• ARI Max Domi – Save
• PHI Nolan Patrick – Goal

Game Statistics