Flyers Rout Jets, Move Closer to Playoffs

There was some scoreboard help earlier in the day for the Philadelphia Flyers, but they certainly weren't about to chance the result of their own game. A three-goal outburst in the first period set the tone for the night, as the Flyers rolled to a 7-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night to take one step closer to a playoff berth.

How It Happened

The Flyers got on the board right away just 1:17 into the game. Porter Martone scored his third goal of the season after starting the play with a takeaway in the defensive zone, getting a great return pass from Travis Konecny.

The Jets evened things up at 6:57. Haydn Fleury jumped all over a rebound left by Daniel Vladar for his second goal of the season. Less than two minutes later, the Flyers moved back in front with a pair of quick goals. Matvei Michkov's 18th goal of the season at 8:24 and Sean Couturier's 11th of the season just 25 seconds later made it a 3-1 game.

In the second, the Flyers extended the lead with a point shot by Travis Sanheim that deflected off a Winnipeg defenseman and in for his 11th goal of the season. In the final minute of the period, Noah Cates added a shorthanded goal for his 18th of the season to open up a 5-1 lead.

Couturier scored again in the third, getting the puck all alone in front and making a great move for his 12th goal of the season and second of the night. Nick Seeler scored from long range to cap the scoring.

Box Score

1st Period

PHI Porter Martone (3) (Travis Konecny) 1:17
WPG Haydn Fleury (2) (Cole Koepke, Jonathan Toews) 6:57
PHI Matvei Michkov (18) (Noah Cates, Denver Barkey) 8:24
PHI Sean Couturier (11) (Unassisted) 8:49

2nd Period

PHI Travis Sanheim (11) (Rasmus Ristolainen, Couturier) 11:41
PHI Cates (18) SH (Christian Dvorak, Ristolainen) 19:28

3rd Period

PHI Couturier (12) (Unassisted) 6:23
PHI Nick Seeler (4) (Cates, Michkov) 13:32

By the Numbers

Shots: Flyers: 22, Jets: 27
Power Play: Flyers: 0-for-1, Jets: 0-for-3
Faceoffs: Flyers: 59.1%, Jets: 40.9%
Goalies: PHI Dan Vladar: 24 saves on 25 shots, WPG Connor Hellebuyck: 15 saves on 20 shots, WPG Eric Comrie: 0 saves on 2 shots

Key Performers

⭐ Sean Couturier — What a night for the captain. Couturier scored a goal shortly after the Flyers regained the lead in the first to open up a two-goal margin. He assisted on a goal in the second. He added a second goal in the third for a three-point night.

⭐⭐ Matvei Michkov — Michkov's goal in the first put the Flyers ahead for good. He also added an assist, and had the second-highest shot total in the game.

⭐⭐⭐ Dan Vladar — There were plenty of contributors on offense, but it wouldn't have been possible if not for the play of Vladar. The goal he allowed in the first was one he'll want back, a bad rebound that should have been controlled, but he was dominant the rest of the way.

The Takeaway

You wanted a response, you got a response. The Flyers truly flushed a bad game in Detroit on Thursday with another statement. Three goals in the first period, including the first two by Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov, and two timely goals in the second period set the tone and broke things open. And what a game for captain Sean Couturier, who turned back the clock and delivered one of his best performances in a long time. For a team that still controlled their own destiny going into Saturday, they delivered on it. Now with two games to go, the Flyers are going to remain in control, and the playoffs are that much closer.