In their first game back at Xfinity Mobile Arena since the Olympic break, the Flyers hold off the Boston Bruins for a second consecutive victory. Let’s wrap:
Dan The Man
Flyers netminder Dan Vladar was sensational in goal on Saturday, making 26 saves in the win. This included a 16-shot barrage during the second period in which the Flyers killed off two penalties. In fact, after the goaltender made a flurry of saves on a Bruins powerplay in the second period, the fanbase on his side of the rink greeted Vladar with a short standing ovation for his effort.
“The fans have been awesome all year,” Vladar said. “”We really feel that they have our back. We just don’t want to waste this opportunity, we want to play well, especially for them, especially for ourselves, as well.”
With the win, the Flyers pull within six points of Boston for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. A push for a playoff spot remains unlikely for the orange and black, but it was nice to see Vladar get to be front and center in a nationally broadcasted game. He’s been very good all year.
“He does so much for us off the ice as well,” Jamie Drysdale said of Vladar. “In the locker-room, in between periods, he’s always talking, just saying whatever’s on his mind and usually it’s awesome stuff coming out of his mouth so real positive guy and he’s been real good for us.”
Fortuitous Bounce
After 40 minutes of scoreless play, the Flyers received a gift. Roughly four minutes into the 3rd period, Christian Dvorak attempted to wrap the puck around the kick plate or glass on a dump-in. The puck took a crazy bounce off the glass and ended up in the middle of the ice in front of the Bruins’ goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Dvorak was able to quickly get to the puck and hit Travis Konecny with a drop pass for the goal. It was Konecny’s 23rd of the season.
“Yeah, just hit the stanchion and bounced in front of the net there,” Dvorak said. “I could see in the corner of my eye him {Konecny} coming behind me so gave it a chance and he did a good job being there and putting it in.”
Later, the Flyers would add an insurance marker from Drysdale, who beat Swayman clean on the blocker side to extend the Flyers lead before Charlie McAvoy got one back for Boston.
Off The Schneid
With a minute remaining, Sean Couturier iced the game for the Flyers with an empty net goal. The tally snapped a 31-game goal-less drought and was just the captain’s 6th of the season. Couturier’s game has deservedly been chastised by fans throughout his struggles this year and even if he is no longer the player he once was, he can certainly be more effective than he’s shown this year. Perhaps this gets him moving in the right direction for the remainder of the season.
They Said It
Rick Tocchet on Jamie Drysdale’s development: “This is summer’s a big summer for him. I remember coaching Quinn Hughes. Over a summer, he increased his shot 12 miles per hour, which is amazing. I think Drysy can get that shot a little bit harder, which he’s been working on, and it’s paying off.”
Vladar on the team keeping back from the break focused: “We knew we have it in us. We had it at the beginning of the year and kind of slipped away, but we just got find the swagger because we have it here.”
Did You Know?
According to NHL stats, Konecny’s third period goal is his 43rd game-opening goal of his career. He therefore ties Rick MacLeish for ninth most in Flyers history.
On Deck
The Flyers will return to action on Monday, when they head to Toronto to take on Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs. The contest will be broadcast locally on NBCSP with puckdrop set for 7:30 p.m.
