Voracek’s Late Goal Lifts Flyers Over Devils

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

For the change, the Flyers had been playing a solid defensive game but were still in position where one mistake could take away valuable standings points. Unlike last Saturday, the Flyers were on the right end of an opportunity.

A late goal by Jake Voracek on a two-on-one put the Flyers ahead in the third for good in a 5-2 win for the Flyers over the New Jersey Devils. 

The Flyers were victimized by an early penalty call that shouldn't have been. Michael Raffl was called for hooking as Marco Mueller lost an edge in the corner, putting the Devils on a power play.

They capitalized, as Marcus Johansson made a great cross-ice pass to Damon Severson who went top shelf on Brian Elliott for the opening goal at 4:07.

The Flyers were able to answer at 10:41 with a power-play goal of their own. The top unit struggled to get set up, but the second unit was able to come through for the first time this season. Fresh off a face-off win by Jordan Weal, Travis Sanheim got the puck to Travis Konecny, who moved in and fired a shot high over Keith Kinkaid from the right circle to tie the game at one with his second goal of the season.

The Flyers had two more power-play chances in the first, but failed to take advantage. Shots after the first period were 7-5 Flyers.

The second period was the typical tight-checking, low-chance Flyers-Devils affair. Shots in the period were 7-5 Devils, but it took the Flyers over 12 minutes to register their first shot of the period, despite two power play opportunities.

Late in the period, the Flyers got the only marker where it counts though. Voracek forced a neutral zone turnover, carried into the zone and threaded a pass across the crease to Nolan Patrick for the tap-in goal, his first of the season in his return from injury with 1:04 left in the period to give the Flyers the lead after two periods.

The Devils got an early power play in the third and took advantage for the second time in the game. Brian Boyle got some space at the left circle and fired a shot high over a screened Elliott to tie the game at two at 2:25 of the period. The Flyers challenged for goalie interference, but the call on the ice stood.

Late in the game, the score remained locked in a 2-2 tie with chances being limited. An odd-man rush for the Flyers changed all that.

Ivan Provorov started a two-on-one with an outlet pass that sent Voracek in on goal with Scott Laughton beside him. Voracek looked pass and then dropped the shoulder to make a move and beat Kinkaid to give the Flyers the lead with 3:10 remaining.

Wayne Simmonds and Laughton each added goals into an empty net to cap the scoring.

Elliott made 19 saves in the win. Kinkaid stopped 16 of 19 shots in the defeat.

Voracek had three points in the win. Provorov and Sanheim each had two assists. The Devils were 2-for-3 on the power play, the Flyers were 1-for-5.

The Flyers return to the ice at home on Monday night against the Colorado Avalanche. Game time is at 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• NJ Damon Severson (1) PP (Marcus Johansson, Miles Wood) 4:07
• PHI Travis Konecny (2) PP (Travis Sanheim, Jordan Weal) 10:41

2nd Period

• PHI Nolan Patrick (1) (Jake Voracek) 18:56

3rd Period

• NJ Brian Boyle (3) PP (Will Butcher, Taylor Hall) 2:25
• PHI Voracek (3) (Ivan Provorov, Sanheim) 16:50
• PHI Wayne Simmonds (6) EN (Claude Giroux, Provorov) 18:55
• PHI Scott Laughton (4) EN (Voracek, Jori Lehtera) 19:36

Game Statistics