The Philadelphia Flyers crushed the Minnesota Wild, 6-2, at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday evening. Philadelphia built a 3-0 lead in the opening 40 minutes. The Wild drew within 3-2 in the third period before the Flyers scored three unanswered goals. With the win, the Flyers improved to 4-2-1 on the young season.

Travis Konecny (6th goal of the season) scored the only goal of the first period. In the middle stanza, Sean Couturier (2nd) and Bobby Brink (1st NHL goal) added power play tallies. In the third period, Dakota Mermis (2nd) and Marcus Foligno (2nd) drew the Wild within 3-2 before Owen Tippett (1st) restored a little breathing room on a breakaway. Brink scored (2nd goal of the game and season) again to re-open a three-goal margin and then Travis Sanheim (1st) further extended the lead.

The Wild (3-3-1) are an utter mess defensively, and the Flyers did what they needed to do against such a club: take full advantage of the time and space. Minnesota has allowed a combined 31 goals over the last six games. Even in their opening night shutout win over Florida, Minnesota yielded 41 shots on goal.

None of this reflects on how the Flyers played. Philly continued to play fast, forecheck tenaciously, and, especially in the first period, defended their own turf aggressively. It was also nice to get the power play going. Two power play goals in the second period -- the Flyers first two tallies this season at 5-on-4 -- turned a 1-0 lead into a 3-0 cushion and proved very valuable in the third period before the Flyers pulled away again.

For a period-by-period recap, analysis and highlights, see the Postgame 5.

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