Five Flyers Observations : Dethroning Of A King
The Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Rangers by a score of 4-0 Friday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center. NBC’s Thanksgiving Showdown was a great show.
Travis Konecny led the Flyers with a goal and two assists. On top of the points, Travis Konecny recorded his first career Gordie-Howe-Hat Trick with a fight with Ryan Strome in the 2nd period.
Konecny’s line-mates, Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier, also had 3-point games as well.
Calvin Pickard recorded the 31-save shutout for the Flyers. Pickard’s first shutout since February 7th, 2017 against Montreal.
Here are 4 more observations from the Flyers 4-0 win over the Rangers…
A King Dethroned
One standard with the Rangers over the past 14 seasons is their goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist, nicknamed the King, has been a Flyers killer over his career.
In 57 career games against the Flyers, Lundqvist is 35-16-4. Today, it looked no different. Lundqvist looked like vintage Lundqvist and many thought it would be a long day for the Flyers.
However, today was a different story. Today, the Flyers dethroned the King. After scoring on an uncredited shot, Lundqvist made save and puck hit a Ranger into back of net, it took almost 40 shots to solve Lundqvist. But, the Flyers did it.
Konecny’s Gordie Howe Hat Trick
Need a spark? Travis Konecny provides one. Konecny has a that extra ounce of in him that drives other teams crazy. He isn’t afraid to jump into a scrum. But, he also is feared as a goal scorer.
That is what makes Konecny, Konecny. Today, you got that from Konecny on both sides. The physical Konecny and the scoring Konecny were present.
After scoring the Flyers first goal, Konecny would then stand up for a slightly late hit on Sean Couturier and fight Dylan Strome. However, the scoring Konecny would finish the game in the 3rd with a beautiful set-up of Sean Couturier.
Call for a spark answered. Konecny found one.
Calvin Pickard
Something the Flyers have yet to get this season is solid goal-tending. Whether is 4 goals. 5 goals. Or even 6 goals. The Flyers goal-tending has given it up this season already.
However, today, Pickard looked like the future hall-of-famer at the opposite end of the rink. Pickard made timely save after timely save to keep the Flyers ahead. None bigger than the break-away chance on Rangers Lias Andersson.
That save would set-up the Flyers next goal to put the game away. Those types of saves change games and today it was on the Flyers side.
Finally A 60-Minute Game
Today, for the 1st time all season, the Flyers put out a full 60-minute effort. No 20 minute, 3rd period effort. No comeback needed. The Flyers played a full game effort today and it showed.
Whether it was faceoffs, 37 of 63. Shots 46-31. Penalty Kill 3 for 3. And finally, the shots on goal category. The Flyers had 46 shots on net to only 12 missed shots and 19 blocked shots.
The Flyers all season haven’t even came close to those numbers. Game after game, the Flyers shot total would equal their missed and blocked shots total. Not good when you are battling from behind in most games.
However, today was different and a full 60-minute effort was what the Flyers needed. Not just for the season, but also to save some Flyers from being traded and a coach from being fired.
Result : Flyers 4 – Rangers 0, WIN
Record : 10 – 10 – 2
Next Game : 11/24 Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Canada, NBCSports Philadelphia 7:00pm