Flyers’ 5-4 Shootout Win Over Wild
The Wild are in playoff position as they are second in the Central division one point behind the Stars. The Wild are on a two game win streak after defeating the Capitals and the Devils in overtime. With Philadelphia coming off of a win against the Panthers on Tuesday they look to get their second win in a row.
The puck dropped at 6:30 which is thirty minutes earlier to the normal 7pm start time with an intensely choppy game between both clubs. Philadelphia was the first of the two teams to get on the board. Scott Laughton was the scorer, but Travis Sanheim’s assist was a big one as it was his 100th career assist. The Flyers battled throughout the remainder of the 1st period, but with Marc-Andre Fleury in net for Minnesota he was able to make crucial stops. This allowed for Minnesota to equalize the game at 1 as Oskar Sundqvist scores ending the 1st period.
Sarge and Sanny stay hot. 🔥@Laughts21 | @Sanheim17 pic.twitter.com/fqjIOr1vCn
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 23, 2023
Unlike the first period, Philadelphia came out strong as they were the more dominate team. This time Carter Hart who was in net for the Flyers was able to showcase his skills between the posts and kept the game even. Joel Farabee scored for Philadelphia giving them the lead once again (2-1). In a quick turn of events Matt Boldy and Marcus Foligno both scored for Minnesota giving them their first lead of this cat and mouse game. With under a minute remaining in the 2nd the Flyers were able to gain a power play goal by Rasmus Ristolainen.
Previous to the 2nd period both teams are going into the final frame with an equalized game at 3 a piece. Over halfway through the period after both teams battled back and fourth for puck possession; Matt Boldy was able to get his second goal of the night for the Wild putting Minnesota back on top 4-3. With the younger players on the team making their voices heard; it’s not surprise that none other than Tyson Foerster was able to equalize the game at 4 less than a minute of Boldy’s goal. 60 minutes wasn’t enough for the Flyers and Wild and now both teams battle in overtime.
Tyson didn't hear no bell. #MINvsPHI | #FueledByPhilly pic.twitter.com/JvXrGdyIej
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 24, 2023
Evidently overtime wasn’t enough to decide the winner of this game, which meant it was up to a shootout. With Hart in net for the Flyers and Fleury in net for the Wild it all comes down to the battle of the goalies. JVR was the lone scorer for both teams as the Flyers came out victorious in a shootout win.
Flyers win 5-4 in a shootout. pic.twitter.com/Gs3kNJzNMC
— Haley Taylor Simon (@Haleytsimon) March 24, 2023
After the game a big topic was this win being Tortorella’s 700th win. When asking if that meant anything to him he replied with, “No.” While Tortorella is a successful coach part of the success has been from focusing on the game and not his own personal accomplishments.
Scott Laughton commented on the Flyers’ dominance throughout the past games throughout this home stretch, “I think just supporting the puck better through the neutral zone coming back towards the puck and not leaving our defense kind of by themselves in our zone. Coming through the neutral zone with speed. Playing with the puck a lot more in the other zone. Continue to do that we will have the puck a lot more and defending a lot less.”
The real star of tonight’s game is James Van Riemsdyke who got the game winning shootout goal. “just going down and just trying to see what he would give me, the goalie, and that instinct took over and went from there.”
The Flyers host the Red Wings this Saturday. Puck drop is at 1pm.