Coming into tonight’s game on a 2 game win streak, the Flyers had revenge on their minds. New Jersey came into tonight’s tilt just 2-6-2 in their last 10 games with their 2 wins coming against the Flyers. These same teams played last Wednesday with New Jersey handing an uninspired Flyers club their 10th straight loss. Things changed tonight as the Flyers jumped all over the Devils from start to finish.
1st Period
The Flyers outshot the Devils 13-6 in the 1st period and were able to put 2 pucks past Devils net minder, Mackenzie Blackwood. Travis Sanheim opened the scoring 9:14 into the 1st frame on a goal Blackwood would probably like back. Ristolainen and James van Riemsdyk were credited with assists. Van Riemsdyk now has 4 points in his last 3 games.
After controlling most of the period the Flyers would strike again late as Cam Atkinson finished a nice feed once again from Rasmus Ristolainen, his second primary assist of the period. Travis Sanheim picked up the secondary assist, giving him his 2nd multi point game in just over a week. (2 assists vs Colorado 12/6)
2nd Period
The 2nd period was much like the first for the Flyers as they controlled most of the period and had the majority of the prime scoring chances. Justin Braun would score at 6:07 in the period on another goal Blackwood absolutely has to have, putting the Flyers up 3-0.
PK Subban would score less than a minute later to bring the Devils within 2.
There was a recurring theme throughout the period and that was Cam Atkinson and prime scoring chances. Stoned multiple times during the period, CA89 would not be denied again, drilling home his 2nd of the game, this time shorthanded, to put the Flyers back up by 3.
Oskar Lindblom, who had been playing well the entire night, finally found himself in a scoring position as Cam Atkinson forced an offensive zone turnover and found Lindblom in alone on Blackwood for his 2nd of the season and 2nd point of the night.
3rd Period
Cam Atkinson, who seemingly had prime scoring opportunities all night long, was able to cap off his 7th career hat trick and 1st as a Flyer, with a nice give and go with Flyers captain, Claude Giroux, Atkinson buried the Flyers 6th goal of the game.
While the shot totals (Flyers 30 to Devils 27) would have you believe this game was somewhat evenly played, it wasn’t. We haven’t been able to say this much about the Flyers but they thoroughly dominated New Jersey tonight from start to finish.
The Flyers killed off 4 Devils power plays while also forcing New Jersey into 9 giveaways. After what was potentially the most complete game of the season, the Flyers will look to continue building on what is now their longest winning streak of the season with a game Thursday night in Montreal who are just 6-21-3 on the season and 1-8-1.
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