Flyers defeat Canucks with three unanswered goals

Written by: Liam Giannelli

Photo by: Sportsnet Canada

The Philadelphia Flyers earned their second win under new head coach John Tortorella in a 3-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. 

The Flyers were missing some key starters as right wing Cam Atkinson was ruled out with an upper body injury and center Sean Couturier was listed on the injury reserve with a back injury. 

Kyle Burroughs put the Canucks up 1-0 in the first 90 seconds with a quick wrist shot. Conor Garland added to the total, scoring with five minutes left in the first period.

Despite being shut out in the first period however, the Flyers answered in the second.

Newcomer defenseman Tony DeAngelo scored the first goal of the night for the Flyers, off a wrist shot at the top of the point. The goal was assisted by center Kevin Hayes and left wing James van Riemsdyk, both getting their third assist of the season. 

Then, with three minutes remaining in the second period, a costly give away by Canucks’ center J.T. Miller resulted in a short-handed goal scored by Flyers’ left wing Scott Laughton to even the score at two. 

Carter Hart added 13 of his 28 total saves, including an acrobatic stop to keep the game within reach heading into the third period.

Then, after killing off two Vancouver power plays and gaining some much-needed momentum, the Flyers were able to take the lead with a goal scored by right wing Travis Konecny with six minutes remaining in the third period. DeAngelo recorded an assist on the goal, gaining his second point of the night. 

Konecny also got his second point of the night with the goal, as he had the recorded assist in Laughton’s goal in the second period. 

Tortorella was very encouraged by how Konecny has come along so far. 

“I just like his energy,” Tortorella said. “We are trying to get him more time out there. He’s one of those players that you’re looking to put in all situations because he just has so much try in his game so you can’t help but look at that. He’s an important guy.”

The second period marked the end of Demko’s shutout as the Flyers were able to convert on their fifth power play opportunity. 

The Flyers were able to kill off two Canucks power plays in the third period, both coming with help from Carter Hart in the net. 

 A fight erupted between Nicolas Deslauriers for the Flyers and Kyle Burroughs for the Canucks after a hit in the offensive zone.

Vancouver was unable to put anything together following the first period. The last two minutes of the third period, the Canucks could not utilize their power play and extra man advantage to tie the game. The Flyers held on for the victory. 

Carter Hart got the start in the net for the Flyers and finished with 28 saves, while in the opposing crease Thatcher Demko had the start for the Canucks and had 28 saves on the night as well. 

Tortorella also notices the fight his team has put together this season. 

“You have a little early success,” Tortorella said. “We came back and found a way to stay together, not break apart. We found a way just to stay within ourselves. We did not panic and we won the game.”

Philadelphia takes the first game in the season series at home. These two teams met twice last October and split the season series. Vancouver will look to split the season series again as the Flyers visit Vancouver on February 18th. 

The Flyers look to be 3-0 on the season as they head down to Tampa Bay in their next contest against the Lightning on Tuesday, October 18th. The Canucks will try to get in the win column as they take on the Washington Capitals on Monday, October 17th, in Washington.