Monday Night Party At The Wells Fargo Center, Vegas Was Even Invited, Well Sorta…
Viva La Philadelphia? Well, guess Vegas forgot where they were Monday night when they took on the Philadelphia Flyers. After a great period of hockey by both teams, the Flyers took a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period. A period where the party would begin.
After continued pressure that carried over from the 1st period, the Flyers would light the lamp for their first of four 2nd period goals. Kevin Hayes would win a board battle and slide the puck through the five-hole for the goal.
Just 59 seconds later, Ivan Provorov’s point shot would hit a Vegas defender to redirect home for the goal. But, wait the party has just begun.
Vegas would then throw a flurry, no not even Marc-Andre Fleury could help Vegas tonight, of shots Brian Elliotts way. The Golden Knights controlled the game for the most part after the 3rd Flyers goal. Outshooting the Flyers 10-1 over a spam of five minutes. But, none would make it past Brian Elliott.
The Flyers second power-play unit, who has very much outplayed the first unit, would get the next one. Sean Couturier would feed a beautiful cross-ice pass to Matt Niskanen for the one-timer that beat Dansk.
Then, just like the 3rd Flyers goal, this time only 55 seconds later, Lindblom would make it 5-0. Caught in the middle of a bad long change, Raffl and Lindblom would skate up ice on a 2v1 that was executed too perfection.
It would take Vegas to shot #27 to beat Brian Elliott. After two early penalties, the Golden Knights would score on the 5v3. Vegas would get another one on a break-away by Reilly Smith late in the 3rd.
However, Michael Raffl would do the same the other way on the break-away to give the Flyers their 4-goal lead again and the 6-2 win.
A great team effort that answered head coach Alain Vigneault’s call. Brian Elliott lead the way in net stopping 33 of the 35 he faced.
Quick Notes…
Flyers Joel Farabee made his NHL debut tonight. The 19-year-old was a breath of fresh air and a youth spark the Flyers needed. After making it to final cuts all the way in Prague, Farabee was sent down to the Phantoms. Before being sent down, Farabee was told by head coach Alain Vigneault to go there with the right mindset, do you, and you will be back up in no time. Well, after goals in each of his first three pro games, Farabee answered the call.
One steady problem the Flyers have had is their 2nd power-play unit. Units that would score maybe 5-10 goals a season. Which in the NHL is not good enough. To start this season, the Flyers 2nd power-play unit has not only outscored the 1st unit, but is tripling them at the moment. After another two goals tonight, the 2nd unit has 6 goals to the 1st units 2.
For the 1st time this season, Claude Giroux returned to his natural position of center. Many believe Giroux’s days as a full-time center are over. But, Giroux isn’t giving up those hopes. Even playing the wing, Giroux is still among the top in the NHL in faceoffs won. Moving Giroux back to center reunited him with JVR & Voracek. A very productive line from the end of last season. In the absence of injured Nolan Patrick, the Flyers need three strong centers. Moving Giroux back to center for the time being gives the Flyers just that with Couturier and Hayes.
Result : Flyers 6 – Golden Knights 2, WIN
Record : 3 – 3 – 1
Next Game : 10/24 Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago IL, 8:30pm