The Philadelphia Flyers’ three-game losing streak came to an end on Sunday after an emphatic 6-3 victory against the Utah Mammoth.
Matvei Michkov opened the scoring in the first period before Dmitri Simashev equalized not too long after. Philadelphia then jumped to a 5-1 lead with goals from Travis Konecny and Noah Cates in the second period and Christian Dvorak and Oliver Bonk in the third.
Things got dicey after the Mammoth scored back to back power play goals within 67 seconds from Mikhail Sergachev and Logan Cooley late in the third, but the Flyers were able to get the last laugh from a Cole Knuble empty net tally.
Cates, Dvorak, and Konecny each scored a goal and an assist, Jamie Drysdale notched 3 assists, and Travis Sanheim added 2 assists as 12 different Flyers found their names on the boxscore.
Dan Vladař earned the victory after stopping 19 of 22 shots, whereas his fellow countryman, Karel Vejmelka, allowed 5 goals on 20 shots.
FIRST PERIOD
It was the Flyers who opened the scoring in this one courtesy of Matvei Michkov’s 10th of the season at the 12:49 mark. Michkov jumped on a loose puck from a turnover before passing it off to Porter Martone. The sophomore forward then threw the puck towards the net that bounced off a defender and right to Michkov who made no mistake in tight on Karel Vejmelka.
The Mammoth responded 1:35 later after Dmitri Simashev jumped on a fortuitous bounce in front of Dan Vladař for his 3rd of the season. Vincent Trocheck aired a puck into the Flyers’ zone that Cam York misread, the bounce landed right to Simashev who was making a beeline towards the net, and the 6th overall pick from the 2023 draft scored his third goal in four games.
An evenly played period came to a close with both teams tied heading into the intermission and Utah holding a small 9-7 edge in shots, despite having 2 power plays.
SECOND PERIOD
Travis Konecny regained the Flyers lead just 1:06 into the middle frame for his 1st of the season. After Christian Dvorak rang one off the crossbar, the puck went all the way around to Jamie Drysdale at the point before he sent it back around to Konecny, who was stationed behind the net. The veteran turned to the front of the net and tried to send a pass out to Dvorak on the other side, but it went off the Mammoth and in.
Noah Cates doubled the Flyers’ lead at the 5:50 mark after he walked into the slot and wired a shot that deflected off a defender and past Vejmelka again. Out of a scuffle along the boards, Drysdale got the puck at the point and found Travis Sanheim on the opposite side before he located Cates in the middle of the ice for his second of the season.
Zegras was shaken up after the fact after he was involved in the collision where he had initially fallen and then made worse when Konecny trucked over a defender on top of him. He went down the tunnel in pain but came back out and didn’t miss a shift.
A quick start to the period put the Flyers in the driver’s seat as they took a 3-1 lead into the third period while also holding a 16-14 edge in shots.
THIRD PERIOD
Only 62 seconds into the third period, the Flyers top line struck again after Dvorak wired a hard shot past Vejmelka to increase their lead to 4-1. Sanheim pinched successfully to get the puck to Konecny at the side of the net before he set up a wide open Dvorak in the slot for his 3rd of the season.
The good times kept rolling after Oliver Bonk wired a slap shot from the point at the 5:35 mark. Sean Couturier did a terrific job at protecting the puck coming from behind the net before finding York at the point. York then passed it to Bonk on the opposite side and the rookie had all the time in the world to wind up his shot and notch his 1st of the year. The 5th goal of the game also represented a season-high for the Flyers.
Simon Benoit and Lawson Crouse dropped the gloves at the 11:55 mark after the former dispatched Logan Cooley along the boards. The latter ended up receiving the extra minor penalty for roughing to send the Flyers on the power play with the game getting out of reach.
With 4 minutes remaining, the Mammoth converted on their fourth power play of the night after a howitzer from Mikhail Sergachev beat Vladař cleanly from the point. Noel Acciari served as the perfect screen for the Russian defender who earned his 5th of the season from Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz.
Unfortunately the Flyers took a penalty 26 seconds after the fact and the Mammoth struck once again. They pulled the goaltender and it worked like a charm as Cooley notched their second goal in 67 seconds. Cooley tried to set up Schmaltz in the middle whose shot was disrupted but the puck bounced back to Cooley and he made no mistake short side.
With 1:34 remaining in regulation, Cole Knuble iced the game with an empty net tally after a great defensive play by Acciari set the goal up.
UP NEXT
The Flyers play host to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday where they will debut their new Hometown Remix jerseys.
FLYERS ALUMNI VEGAS AND IRELAND TRIPS
Flyers Nation and TrueFan Travel have teamed up for two trips with the Flyers Alumni!
The Las Vegas package (March 10–14) includes tickets to Flyers–Golden Knights on March 11 at T-Mobile Arena, an all-inclusive tailgate, optional flights from Philadelphia, a 4-night downtown hotel stay, an alumni pep rally and Q&A, a Flyers vs. Utah watch party, and a meet and greet.
The Ireland Golf & Tour Experience (July 20–27) includes optional flights from Philadelphia, six nights at The Brehon Killarney and Portmarnock Resort, a welcome reception, a meet and greet and Q&A with Brad Marsh, Patrick Sharp, Joe Watson, Bill Clement, Mark Recchi, and John LeClair, a live Coatesy’s Corner, and optional golf at Old Head, Dooks, Portmarnock, and Druids Glen.
Whether you’re chasing a road game in Vegas or a week on the links in Ireland, these are two chances to travel with Flyers legends!
You must be logged in to post a comment Login