After a 5-4 shootout victory in their last game where they initially blew a 3-goal lead, the Philadelphia Flyers came out with a much better performance in Nashville en route to a 3-1 win.
Nashville scored in the first 104 seconds of the game but then Dan Vladař shut them out the rest of the way as he collected his 6th win of the season. He made 23 saves, including some ten-bell stops in the second period with the Predators pressing.
On the offensive side of the puck, the Flyers received goals from Matvei Michkov (2nd of the season), Noah Cates (4th of the season), and Travis Konecny (5th of the season). Their might penalty kill was also at the forefront, extinguishing all 3 Nashville power play attempts.
With the Flyers having snapped their 2-game losing streak with a shootout victory over Montréal, they entered enemy territory in Nashville as they looked for an early season-series sweep.
FIRST PERIOD
After hitting iron to start the game, the Flyers allowed the game’s first goal at the 1:44 mark after Ryan O’Reilly got just a piece of Filip Forsberg’s shot. While Owen Tippett came inches away from giving the Flyers the early lead, the Predators went the other way and hemmed Philadelphia in their own zone before finally getting one past Vladař. There was a lot of crisp passing involved before O’Reilly was credited with his 6th goal of the season.
Nashville had taken full control for most of the period but the Flyers did look to have signs of life near the end as they went from being outshot 9-1 to 10-7. Travis Sanheim had their best chance shortly after O’Reilly’s tally but his breakaway effort was stopped by Juuse Saros with relative ease as he didn’t bite on the defenseman’s myriad of dekes.
SECOND PERIOD
The persistent Flyers were able to tie things up at the 4:43 mark of the second period, courtesy of Michkov’s second goal of the season. The reimagined line of Michkov, Sean Couturier, and Bobby Brink were able to keep the puck in the zone with the latter making a real heads up play by sending a pass to Couturier from his pants. The captain then found Cam York across the ice before he danced around the defense as he set up Michkov from below the goal-line.
The Flyers began to sit on their laurels as the Predators came in waves, specifically in a 2-minute span at the midway point of the period where they registered 5 shots on goal and had another 6 that were blocked or missed. Vladař had to stand on his head against the likes of Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Luke Evangelista.
After a penalty kill and a scrum, the Flyers seemed a lot more rejuvenated and were able to take a late lead after Cates picked up the loose change in front of the net. Jamie Drysdale‘s initial shot from the slot was stopped but the rebound went right to Cates, as was able to collect his 4th goal with Brink wreaking havoc in front of the net to divert attention. Konecny also extended his point streak to 6 games with the secondary assist on a the goal. He now has 4 goals and 4 assists in that span.
In a period where the Predators were pressing, the Flyers were able to keep their wits and score twice to give them a lead heading into the third and final frame.
THIRD PERIOD
In a fast moving third period, the Flyers collapsed in front of their net and were protecting their 1-goal lead. Although the Predators had 2 power plays in the first half of the period, they were only able to muster 2 shots on goal until they pulled their netminder for the extra attacker.
With 1:13 remaining in regulation, Konecny iced the game with an empty netter for his fifth goal of the season. York and Christian Dvorak were awarded the assists.
Nashville pulled Saros again but they weren’t able to generate much of anything in the final minute as the Flyers swept the season series with another strong outing from Vladař. The Czechia native had struggled in his last 2 starts where he allowed 8 total goals, but he was up to the task tonight with a 23-save effort.
UP NEXT
The Flyers head home for a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Ottawa Senators at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00pm ET.
