Carter Hart was needed to keep things close through two periods, but the Flyers turned it on late as they scored five goals in the third period to down the Maple Leafs by a 6-1 final on Tuesday night from the Wells Fargo Center.
It’s the fifth straight win for the Flyers, who drop a deep and talented Toronto team that was 4-1 under new coach Sheldon Keefe coming in.
There were chances galore early, but Carter Hart and Frederik Andersen were terrific in the first five minutes. Hart made a dandy save on John Tavares in tight that was of the particularly strong variety.
A golden chance for the Flyers would go by the wayside as Oskar Lindblom couldn’t re-direct a perfect pass on target just over six minutes in. If Lindblom could’ve found the net, it would’ve likely been the first goal as it was a quick developing play in front of Andersen.
First power play of the game would be Toronto’s as Ivan Provorov picked up a high-sticking call with 6:43 left in a fast-paced opening period. Hart was busy on the penalty kill, making a pair of saves as the Maple Leafs set things up, then denying William Nylander on a one-timer from the left circle all within the first minute of the minor.
Late in the period Hart would need to be good as the Flyers were hemmed in by the Kasperi Kapanen line. Alexander Kerfoot was on the doorstep for a late chance but Hart said no in making his 15th save in the frame.
No scoring due to the work of the two netminders through 20 minutes, with a slight nod in favor of the work of Hart.
The best chance to start the second was again for the Maple Leafs as Andreas Johnsson roared in on a breakaway but was turned aside by Hart in perhaps his best stop of the night.
Hart says no! pic.twitter.com/5OM0KHbiDS
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) December 4, 2019
The Flyers would finally respond offensively, but James van Riemsdyk was robbed by the pad of Andersen of a quick setup in front from Morgan Frost. It took the Flyers nearly six minutes, but it was a grade A scoring chance for the first time since early on in the first.
Not long after JVR’s chance, the Flyers would break the ice. Kevin Hayes went to work on Auston Matthews and worked to the front to setup Scott Laughton right on the edge of the crease to make it 1-0 Flyers 8:49 into the period. The combo has strung together some strong games of late, and it paid off again here. Matt Niskanen picked up the other assist on Laughton’s third of the year and third in his last four games.
Ohhhh my, Kevin Hayes. Scott Laughton with the finish. pic.twitter.com/MbFTrWHhYG
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) December 4, 2019
After a failed power play, Shayne Gostisbehere blasted one off of Andersen’s glove, but the Flyers were headed right back to the man-advantage with Jake Muzzin going off. They didn’t score on the second one, either, as the power play continued to fizzle.
Laughton’s tally would be the only one during the second frame as the Flyers took a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes.
One goal wasn’t enough for Laughton as he pressed for a second goal early in the third, but found the post behind Andersen on another dandy re-direct in front.
Laughton very close to getting his second of the game pic.twitter.com/NVdeHwzvty
— Brandon Murphy (@2Murphy8) December 4, 2019
With 11:22 left the Maple Leafs would find an equalizer. Travis Dermott’s point shot bounced up in the air and ended up behind Hart to even things up at 1-1.
That sucked.
But the Flyers would get it right back, with who else but the captain doing the honors. Travis Konecny setup Claude Giroux right in front of the Toronto crease and G buried it to gain the lead back at 2-1 just 1:22 after Dermott’s fluke.
The Captain! pic.twitter.com/TphiPJe2Sy
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) December 4, 2019
The Flyers would have a chance to extend their lead with 6:18 left as Matthews headed to the box for interference on Giroux. The Flyers’ power play failed to connect on either of their first two chances. There wasn’t a goal here, but the Flyers would respond shortly after the advantage ended.
Travis Konecny provided the snipe as the Flyers extended their lead to 3-1 with just 3:28 remaining. Toronto would empty the net in search of offense, but would find none as Joel Farabee added an empty netter.
The kids are preeeeeeetty good, folks. pic.twitter.com/UlvoMi3W1D
— Brandon Murphy (@2Murphy8) December 4, 2019
Then Ghost bomb.
Ghost BOMB pic.twitter.com/4d0o8SsLT5
— Brandon Murphy (@2Murphy8) December 4, 2019
Then the JVR slide.
Phil Myers is: Good.
Nice finish by JVR pic.twitter.com/ur7HUI1keA
— Brandon Murphy (@2Murphy8) December 4, 2019
That’s right 6-1 Flyers in the end from the Wells Fargo Center.
Three stars
1. Carter Hart
2. Travis Konecny
3. Claude Giroux
GIF of the night
When you see quality Baby Yoda memes. pic.twitter.com/VIzzlJyEgm
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) December 4, 2019
