Flyers Take Down Panthers Behind Carter Hart’s Career Night

Written by: John Zawislak

Photo by: NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Thursday night, bringing their season record to 5-2-0. 

In a game where it seemed like Philadelphia was being outplayed for the most part, getting out shot by the panthers 51-22, the Flyers were able to capitalize on their chances and got good goaltending to help them come out with the win.

The Flyers for the majority of the short start to the season have been missing some key pieces including forwards Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson, however they were able to get two pieces back tonight in defender Rasmus Ristolainen and forward Owen Tippett.

Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling got things going early for the Panthers with a goal from the point that trickled through the pads of Flyers goaltender Carter Hart.

Just three minutes later the Flyers would answer back with the goal coming from defender Tony DeAngelo, after a slick behind the back pass from Travis Konecny to tie the game up.

A minute later however the Panthers answered back with a goal coming from defenseman Josh Mahura, after Hart made a save and gave up a long rebound right onto the stick of Mahura.

With under five minutes remaining in the first period Flyers forward Scott Laughton, the lone player wearing a letter on his jersey, came up big with a power play goal to tie the game up for the second time. This was Laughton’s third goal of the season, after another great feed from Konecny to get his second point of the night.

Konecny, who was sat in the third period of Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks, came out and made key plays for the Flyers to help pull off the win. A two point night gave Konecny the first star of the game.

“I have no qualms as far as how hard he plays,” head coach John Tortorella said. “I’ll never question how hard he is going to play, that’s never going to be an issue.”

The Second period is where the Flyers offense would begin to show real life coming up with the lone two goals in the period.

The first goal of the third period came from Zac MacEwen on a tip-in from a shot at the point from defenseman Nick Seeler, for his second goal of the year.

Just over a minute later Hayes would get a breakaway chance that was stopped. However, Hayes did not give up on the play, got his own rebound in the corner and was able to find forward Joel Farabee who put it in the back of the net. Panthers’ Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was still down in the crease after denying Hayes’ breakaway. This allowed Farabee to take advantage, putting the Flyers up two goals heading into the third period. 

The Panthers would not go down without a fight, as just 36 seconds into the third Panthers Brandon Montour scored off of a long rebound from Hart to bring Florida within one goal. 

In the final minutes of the third period the Flyers would be tested as the Panthers pulled their goaltender with two minutes remaining and put pressure on the Flyers. However, Carter Hart would come up huge, making multiple key saves down the stretch to keep the Flyers in the lead, and setting a career high in saves with 48.

“Well he is maturing,” Tortorella said. “He made some big saves at key times he has been pretty steady every start this year, he gives us a chance”

While it may not have been the prettiest of wins, coach Tortorella talked about how the team is never going to expect to look good when it comes to the analytics side of the game. 

“We’re not going to have many nights with great numbers, I just don’t think that we are a great analytic team,” Tortorella said. “It’s never going to be perfect with this hockey club this year, because we have so much growing to do, but as we’ve played these first six or seven games we’ve handled situations, and ended up having success.”

The Flyers are back home this Saturday to take on the Hurricanes in a Metropolitan Division matchup.