Wrap: Flyers Earn 3-1 Win in Chicago
Bouncing back from a disappoint performance in the NHL Stadium Series, the Philadelphia Flyers (30-20-7) skated to a 3-1 road victory over the Chicago Blackhawks (15-39-5) at the United Center on Wednesday night.
Paired with the New Jersey Devils regulation loss on Tuesday, the Flyers restored a seven-point lead over New Jersey in the race for third place (and automatic playoff spot) in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils once again hold two games in hand. The New York Islanders, who lost to the New York Rangers on Sunday at the Stadium Series and won on Tuesday, are also seven points behind the Flyers with two games in hand.
In Wednesday's game in Chicago, Travis Sanheim (6th goal of the season) scored on a deflection off Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic at 6:18 of the first period. Chicago's Colin Blackwell (4th) got the goal back at 7:35 on an odd-man rush as he toe-dragged around Jamie Drysdale and then scored to the glove side.
At 3:15 of the second period, Travis Konecny scored his 27th goal of the season, finishing off an an end-to-end counterrush for an unassisted goal inside the far post from the left circle. Garnet Hathaway (6th) potted a Noah Cates rebound at the doorstep for a 3-1 edge at 11:55.
Samuel Ersson earned the win in goal with 20 saves on 23 shots. His best work came on a point-blank save on Taylor Raddysh early in the first period, denying a Tyler Johnson breakaway on the next shift after the Blackwell goal and in making a pair of vital saves during a second period penalty kill. Most of the third period was low-event but Chicago made a bit of a push in the latter stages.
Arvid Söderblom got the start in goal for the Blackhawks. He looked vulnerable at times and had two nearly costly puckhandling gaffes but kept the Blackhawks in the game overall. The Swedish netminder made 30 saves on 33 shots.
Scott Laughton, Joel Farabee, Cates and Ryan Poehling chipped in one assist apiece for the Flyers. Morgan Frost had four high-danger scoring chances of his own per Natural Stat Trick and set up two others but finished without a point. Sean Walker blocked six Chicago shot attempts, while Nick Seeler blocked four. The Flyers were credited with 21 blocked shots overall. In addition to scoring Philly's third goal, a two-hit shift by Hathaway in the first period was a momentum shifter for the Flyers.
The Flyers did not receive any power plays in this game, although there were a few (especially early in the third period) that could have been called. Philly was 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Wednesday's game was the Flyers final one outside the Eastern time zone this season. The remaining 25 games will all be played either on home ice or against fellow Eastern Conference clubs.
The Flyers will have a complete off day on Thursday. On Friday, they will practice at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees. The schedule gets busy over the weekend with back-to-back afternoon games against the New York Rangers (home) on Saturday and Pittsburgh Penguins (away) on Sunday.
For a period-by-period synopsis, analysis, highlights and stats from Wednesday's game, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com:
Click here.
*****
Wrap: Phantoms Earn Comeback Win in Wilkes-Barre, 3-2 (OT)
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms earned a much-needed 3-2 overtime road win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday at Mohegan Sun Arena. Two goals by Cooper Marody (11th and 12th), including the game-winner at 1:03 of sudden death, keyed the victory.
The Phantoms trailed 2-0 in the second period before Bobby Brink (4th) cut the deficit in half at 15:56. Marody tied the score at 11:24 of the third period before scoring the 3-on-3 game winner 63 seconds into overtime.
Felix Sandström earned the win in goal with 22 saves on 24 shots. Fellow Swedish goalie Joel Blomqvist took the OT loss despite 33 saves on 36 shots. Jagger Joshua (5th) and Alex Nylander (17th) notched goals for the Baby Pens before the Phantoms staged their comeback.
Rhett Gardner, Brendan Furry, Jacob Gaucher, Samu Tuomaala, Emil Andrae (primary helper on the game-winner in OT) and Adam Brooks chipped in one assist apiece for Ian Laperriere's club. The Phantoms were 0-for-1 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.
Lehigh Valley used seven defensemen and 11 forwards in their starting lineup for this game. The lineup was as follows:
13 Brendan Furry - 22 Rhett Gardner - 23 Bobby Brink
20 Cooper Marody - 56 Jacob Gaucher - 27 Samu Tuomaala
16 J.R. Avon - 91 Elliot Desnoyers - 19 Wade Allison
10 Evan Polei - 24 Adam Brooks - (rotation)
6 Emil Andrae - 12 Ronnie Attard
37 Adam Ginning - 7 Louie Belpedio
98 Victor Mete - 2 Helge Grans
5 Ethan Samson
32 Felix Sandström
[31 Parker Gahagen]
With the win, the Phantoms moved within two points of the Springfield Thunderbirds for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Lehigh Valley holds one game in hand. However, Springfield still holds a 15-13 regulation wins tiebreaker edge in the case of a points tie in the standings.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»