Anthony Mingioni’s Flyers blogs are powered by Phans of Philly and by Summit Public Adjusters. Have you experienced damage to your property? Don’t panic! You’re in good hands. Summit works for YOU, and not the insurance companies. Call Brendan Gillespie at 215-919-1434. Phans of Philly is the longest-established travel company for Philadelphia pro sports team fan road trips.
Led by a two-goal game from Owen Tippett and three assists from defenseman Cam York, the Philadelphia Flyers soundly defeated the Seattle Kraken, 5-2, on Monday.
Tippett took advantage of being moved up to the Flyers top line with center Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny. Meanwhile, York sparked the heretofore league-worst power-play with two assists on the man advantage.
Philadelphia went 2-for-4 on saw their power plays. In doing so, they jumped up to a tie with the New York Islanders for 22nd in the league (3-for-19). Prior to the game, they were 1-for-the-season with the man advantage, despite showing sporadic improvement in puck movement and attack zone time.
The convincing win concluded a successful four game home-stand. Coming into the game, the Flyers had a pair of wins against the Florida Panthers and the Minnesota Wild sandwiching a loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Both victories have required Philadelphia to win in a variety of ways. Whether it was getting out to a quick start against the two time defending Stanley Cup champions or scratching their way to a come-from-behind overtime victory against Minnesota.
However, it was apparent from the start that this game was going to be played at a much quicker pace, unlike Thursday and Saturday.
Flyers Game Summary
First Period
The Kraken jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 7:16 of the first period when forward Jordan Eberle deflected home a Cale Fleury point shot past Vladar.
But the Flyers quickly responded at 9:56 when Owen Tippett deflected home a shot by defenseman Nick Seeler. The play happened when center Sean Couturier stripped the puck off goalie Joey Daccord behind the net and sent a pass to Seeler.
After Kraken defenseman Josh Mahura took a high sticking penalty, the Flyers took a 2-1 lead on the power-play. Tyson Foerster with a sniper shot over Daccord’s glove. Brink got the puck off the board and his linemate fired at will.
Shots were 10 to 8 in favor of the Flyers for the period.
Second Period
The Flyers exploded for three goals in the second period, including two power-play goals, to spread their lead to 5-2.
Travis Konecny got his first of the season after Matvei Michkov found a pinching Egor Zamula. The Flyers defenseman swoops in and fires a shot that ends up right on Konecny’s stick in the crease at 4:59.
After Seattle’s John Hayden was called for a roughing penalty, the Flyers made them pay with a quick power-play goal. Cam York fires home a rising wrist shot that center Noach Cates deflected home for his second goal of the game. Trevor Zegras set up the play nicely with a backhand pass to York.
Subsequently, Seattle cut the Flyers lead to 4-2 on the power-play. Winger Jani Nyman fired a one timer past a scrum in front of Dan Vladar. Center Matty Beniers found the puck and quickly a pass to the Finn.
However, the Flyers restored their three goal lead when Tippett picked up the puck from center Sean Couturier and shoots from a tight angle near the right boards. A bit of a soft one to give up for Daccord, who would not finish the game.
Third Period
Seattle started the third period by replacing Daccord with Philipp Grubauer.
With the exception of a spirited fight between Konecny and former New York Ranger Ryan Lindgren, that left the latter bloodied and with an additional instigation penalty for his trouble, the Flyers were more than willing to play a controlled defensive game the rest of the way.
Seattle generated a few chances on a later period power-play, but Vladar was equal to the task in setting the final score.
Additional Takeaways
Tippett, Michkov Line Changes Click
After being moved down to the third line on Saturday, Matvei Michkov found himself playing there again with Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak. Owen Tippett, who scored the tying goal against Minnesota, slotted back on the top line’s left wing with Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny.
The Russian winger seemed to play with some extra jump in the first period and work solidly with the defensively responsible Dvorak. His first shift saw him working tight circles near the net. He got a one-timer by the right post around the 11 minute mark. And he would eventually assist on Konecny’s goal with a great pass to Egor Zamula
Meanwhile, Tippett seemed to slot in seamlessly with his linemates, beyond the two goals he scored. In many ways, having him on the line helped to activate Konecny in more of a two way role. In the second period, Konecny’s cut off a Kraken zone exit and helped to create a scoring chance for Couturier while he lurked nearby.
A shift later, Tippett used his speed and reach to send a centering pass to Konecny. While that chance was smothered, Konecny would eventually get his first goal of the season shortly after.
Vladar Stars In His Second Consecutive Start
Changing from alternating his goalies every other start, he tapped Daniel Vladar as his starter for the second consecutive game. Considering Vladar’s performance against the Wild, it was a well-earned accomplishment.
“He’s played really well, it’s his third game,” Tocchet said to reporters during his pregame press conference. “Now you’re in a situation where you start chunking some games together. It could happen with Ersson too. We feel tonight Vlady deserves it.”
The Czech goalie made a couple early important stops, including a dangerous chance by Kraken forward Mason Marchment.
On a later Seattle power-play, Vladar made a major stop on Jani Nyman one-timer to keep things at 2-1. He would add another on Jaden Schwartz with a dangerous deflection near the crease.
With back to back wins, Vladar is putting forward his candidacy for the starting job front and center. We’ll see come Thursday if Tocchet taps him to start a third game in a row.
Next Up
Speaking of Thursday, the Flyers will travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators, before returning home on Saturday to continue their late October stretch of home game against the New York Islanders.
