The Flyers came into Thursday’s game looking to start a streak that would help them climb back into playoff consideration. Strong games from Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn would allow the Flyers to come away with the 5-2 victory.
[adinserter block=”1″]While the Jets would take the game’s first five shots, it would be the Flyers who would get on the board first. Goaltender Michael Hutchinson fumbled a shot attempt by defenseman Michael Del Zotto. Chris VandeVelde hopped on the rebound and slid it past Hutchinson for his seventh goal of the year, fourth in the last five games.
It took the Jets only 1:18 to answer back. Michael Frolik took away a clearing attempt from Flyers Andrew MacDonald. Frolik’s shot was tipped in front by Matthew Perreault where Steve Mason would make the initial save, but Perreault hopped on the rebound and tied the game at 1-1.
The Flyers would get the lead back about three minutes later with a power play goal. Jakub Voracek carried the puck down the left side of the offensive zone where he then sent a pass over to Simmonds. The one-timer beat Hutchinson and gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead.
The Jets would once again tie it, on a power play of their own, with Perreault’s second of the night. He would fire a shot from the right circle that would beat Mason, who was screened by Flyers Luke Schenn and Frolik.
The Flyers would then score the next three goals en route to the victory. Their third goal of the night would be full of firsts for each player involved. Ryan White took a pass from Simmonds and put it on net, where Hutchinson was again unable to handle the rebound. Petr Straka would bang at it a few times before it came into the empty slot where defenseman Nick Schultz would score through traffic.
The goal was Schultz’s first in a Flyers uniform and first since April 8, 2013. It was the first point in a Flyers uniform for White as well as Straka’s first official point in the NHL.
“The rebound popped out, and I was just fortunate to put one in the net,” Schultz said in an interview on the Flyers site. “The top of the net was open, and the goalie was down, and I just had the chance for the shot and took it.”
Brayden Schenn would get his 11th of the season, his first goal in seven games, early on in the third period. Simmonds would initially put a shot on net, find the rebound, circle past a Jets defender and find a wide open Schenn.
“We’re gonna have to make plays like that for the rest of the year,” Simmonds said in an interview. “…Brayden has a great shot and he put it perfectly
[adinserter block=”2″]Sean Couturier would finish the game off with an empty net goal to give the Flyers the 5-2 victory over the Jets, their third win in a row.
- Schenn and Simmonds led the team with a goal and an assist each. Michael Del Zotto earned an assist to give him a career high five-game point streak. Voracek increased his points lead to 58 with the assist on Simmonds’ goal while also extending his point streak to five games.
While goaltender Steve Mason saw action in Tuesday’s game, this game was his first start since January 10th. He made 36 saves on 38 shots, a couple of them acrobatic saves.
The Flyers will return to the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. They look to continue their winning ways against a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs team that has gone 1-8-1 since firing head coach Randy Carlye. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
