PHILADELPHIA — With their 6-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, the Flyers have strung four straight wins together for the first time in almost two years.
Starting with their 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 29, the Flyers have downed the Los Angeles Kings (4-3), the Anaheim Ducks (4-1), and the Coyotes. The last time they won four in a row was from Jan. 26-31, 2021, when they beat the New Jersey Devils twice and then the New York Islanders twice.
Thursday night, the Flyers started out trailing the Coyotes, who beat them 5-4 in overtime Dec. 11. Michael Carcone’s early goal, which bounced off Carter Hart’s chest and over his shoulder, put the Coyotes up 1-0 going into the second.
The Flyers responded by dominating the second period. Travis Konecny, Joel Farabee, Wade Allison, Ivan Provorov, and Kevin Hayes all scored goals for the Flyers’ first five-goal period since Dec. 3, 2019. It is the 66th five-goal period in franchise history.
James van Riemsdyk’s third-period goal made it the Flyers’ first six-goal performance of the season and the first since they beat the Montreal Canadiens, 6-3, on April 21 last season.
While the bench has been resilient and even-keeled through the struggles of the season, coach John Tortorella said it’s obvious how much the wins have done for morale.
Coyotes still permaFrosted
On Dec. 11, Morgan Frost had the best game of his NHL career as he racked up four points (one goal, three assists) in Tempe, Ariz., against the Coyotes. It was his second multi-point game of the season.
While Frost has been on a roll since then, including a four-game point streak, he hadn’t had another multi-point game. That is, until the Coyotes came to town.
Trailing 1-0, Frost banked the puck off the end boards behind the Coyotes goal, setting up Tony DeAngelo’s pass to Konecny for a power play goal. A few minutes later, he deflected Konecny’s pass toward Farabee, who scored the go-ahead. Back on the power play, he then set up Hayes’s goal and earned a secondary assist.
When Frost assisted on van Riemsdyk’s third-period goal, he tied his career high in points.
Coyotes still permaFrosted
On Dec. 11, Morgan Frost had the best game of his NHL career as he racked up four points (one goal, three assists) in Tempe, Ariz., against the Coyotes. It was his second multi-point game of the season.
While Frost has been on a roll since then, including a four-game point streak, he hadn’t had another multi-point game. That is, until the Coyotes came to town.
Trailing 1-0, Frost banked the puck off the end boards behind the Coyotes goal, setting up Tony DeAngelo’s pass to Konecny for a power play goal. A few minutes later, he deflected Konecny’s pass toward Farabee, who scored the go-ahead. Back on the power play, he then set up Hayes’s goal and earned a secondary assist.
When Frost assisted on van Riemsdyk’s third-period goal, he tied his career high in points.
Power-play fuel
The Flyers’ first power play featured more clears by the penalty kill than shots on goal by the Flyers. Their second was cut short by the first intermission. However, with time to plan, the Flyers came out and immediately scored a power play goal to tie the game.
It was only their second power play goal in five games and 10 power play opportunities. It sparked their offensive onslaught in the second, and when the power play got to take the ice again with seven minutes to go, it scored quickly. Frost dropped a pass back to Konecny, who sent it across the ice to Hayes, who scored on the one-timer.
Hayes’ power play goal marked the second time this season the Flyers have scored more than one power play goal in a game. The last time was on Dec. 5 in the 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
The top unit, which was the same as the past few games, scored each of the power play goals. The second unit had one adjustment. Defenseman Travis Sanheim came in for Noah Cates, making it a two-defensemen unit.
What’s next
The Flyers host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. Sunday.
