Flyers get big win over Devils 5-3
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Nothing has seemed easy for the Philadelphia Flyers lately. But thankfully, they pulled out the win in New Jersey over the Devils 5-3.
Much like the Flyers first couple of games on the season, it wasn’t pretty or perfect, but it was enough to get the job done. But behind solid goaltending, a good power-play performance, and timely goals in the third, they pulled out the victory.
Recap:
Period 1
With this game, Claude Giroux becomes the longest tenured captain in Flyers history with 611 games.
The Devils would start off the game with a faceoff win.
48 seconds into the game and Giroux got called for hooking. The power play was thankfully killed off by the Flyers. The Flyers gave up three power play goals in Saturdays loss against the Boston Bruins.
Shots are 6-1 Devils less than six minutes in, and no goals. Good start for Brian Elliot as he’s been a brick-wall so far.
Through eight minutes, it looked like the were “out-flying” the Flyers. What I mean is that the Devils looked faster and were getting through the neutral zone a lot quicker. The Devils are a lot younger than the Flyers, but the Fly guys got to start going quick.
The Flyers, once again, had a turnover problem. Every possession felt like a turnover.
Andreas Johnsson got called to the penalty box for holding. It would be the Flyers’ first power play of the evening.
During the penalty, Yegor Sharangovich got a steal on the puck and ended up all alone in the Flyers zone. But thankfully, he hit the post.
Flyers got it right back on the other side of the ice. Voracek sent a nice behind the back pass to Provorov who slaps it to the goal. The puck tips off van Riemsdiek’s stick and into the net.
With the assist from Voracek on JVR’s goal, Jakub Voracek becomes the 5th Flyers player to reach 400 assists!
While the period may or may have not’ve put me to sleep, it would finally end.
Period stats:
Flyers: 9 shots on goal, 2 hits, 11 faceoffs won, 2 penalty minutes.
Devils: 9 shots on goal, 3 hits, 9 faceoffs won, 2 penalty minutes.
After one period, the Flyers lead 1-0.
Period 2
Just 20 seconds into the period, Palmieri went to the sin bin for goalie interference. Then 39 seconds later, Provorov shot another slap shot that got tapped by JVR through the five-hole and into the back of the net to make the score 2-0.
P.K. Subban would then get called for back-to-back penalties. One for interference, then for tripping. Both penalties were killed.
11:59 into the second, the Devils made a scary rush as Michael McLeod just leaked the puck past Elliot into the back of the net to make the 2-1. There was a delayed penalty on the Flyers, but the Devils scored so the penalty was dismissed.
Devils came right back as Johnsson shot the puck from the slot and Zajac put the puck in the net with a deflection, no chance for Elliot. Tie game 2-2.
The period is over, and I’m gonna go throw another temper tantrum.
But for now, here are the Period stats:
Flyers: 13 shots on goal, 6 hits, 11 faceoffs won, 0 penalty minutes.
Devils: 9 shots on goal, 2 hits, 12 faceoffs won, 6 penalty minutes.
After two periods, it’s all knotted up 2.
Period 3
About two minutes into the third, the Devils shot the puck at Elliot, thankfully it hit the crossbar. Both teams would then rush to the the net as there was a massive scramble in front of Elliot. But somehow someway, the puck stayed out of the net as Elliot ended up on his side. A very scary moment for Philadelphia as New Jersey was so close to taking the lead.
Crazy sequence by the Flyers I’m going to be honest, it’s hard to describe.
All I know is that the goalie fell, the Flyers had patience, Giroux gave a pretty pass to Patrick who put the puckin the net to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead! Just watch the video below!
A few moments later, Devils got the puck stolen by Lindblom, who passes it to Farabee, who shoots over the head of diving Wedgewood and into the net to make the score 4-2!
Wedgewood to the bench with 2:30 to go. Devils had an empty net. But it didn’t last too long as Provorov blasted the puck into the empty net to make the score 5-2.
With a little over a minute left, Zacha scored in a scramble in front of the net to make the score 5-3.
But it wouldn’t matter in the end as the Flyer would pull out the win 5-3.
Game stats:
Flyers: 31 shots on goal, 10 hits, 30 faceoffs won, 2 penalty minutes.
Devils: 26 shots on goal, 10 hits, 30 faceoffs won, 10 penalties won.
Final score:
Flyers 5, Devils 3.
3 stars:
- James van Riemsdyk (2 PPGs)
- Ivan Provorov (1 G & 2 A)
- Claude Giroux (2 A)
The now 4-2-1 Flyers will take on the 3-2-1 Devils at the Rock to end their mini-series on Thursday, Jan. 28th at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T.
