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Rick Tocchet’s Philadelphia Flyers (33-23-12) have assembled an unusual six-game road winning streak. Each and every win has gone beyond regulation before Philadelphia prevailed. On Thursday, Philly hung tough to beat the LA Kings via shootout, 4-3 (2-0), at Crypto.Com Arena,
Philly was significantly outplayed by the Kings in the first period but nearly escaped the frame unscathed. Finally, in the last half minute of the period, Quinton Byfield (14th goal of the season) forged a 1-0 lead for the Kings.
The second period was a seesaw affair.
The teams traded off goals in the opening minute of the frame. After Travis Konecny (25th) tied the game, Anze Kopitar (11th) restored the lead. However, Noah Cates (14th) made it a 2-2 game a few minutes later before Travis Sanheim (7th) gave Philadelphia a 3-2 lead.
In the middle stages of the third period, Artemi Panarin (PPG, 23rd) re-tied the score at 3-3. After a scoreless overtime, Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov converted their shootout attempts to win the game.
Samuel Ersson stopped 22 of 25 shots in regulation and overtime before going 2-for-2 in the shootout. LA goalie Darcy Kuemper made 17 saves on 20 shots but was 0-for-2 in the shootout.
Injuries to Sean Couturier and Luke Glendening during Wednesday’s game in Anaheim left the Flyers one forward short of a 12-man lineup up front. Consequently, the Flyers dressed seven defensemen.
Additionally, veteran winger Garrett Wilson made his Flyers debut. Denver Barkey was scratched due to injury.
The Flyers went 0-for-2 on the power play. They were 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Flyers Lineup
Alex Bump – Christian Dvorak – Travis Konecny
Nikita Grebenkin – Trevor Zegras – Owen Tippett
Carl Grundstrom – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov
Luke Glendening – Garnet Hathaway
Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York – Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler – Noah Juulsen
Emil Andrae (7th defenseman/ 13th forward)
Samuel Ersson
[Dan Vladar]
Up next: Road Trip Finale
The Flyers’ stretch of three games in less than four nights continues on Saturday. Tocchet’s club wraps up its California road trip with an afternoon game against the San Jose Sharks (32-29-6). Game time is 4:00 p.m. EDT (1:00 p.m. PDT). The game will be televised on NBCSP.
Philly will not hold a morning skate on Saturday. Lineup adjustments and injury updates will be available shortly prior to game time. Look for Dan Vladar to get the start in goal.
