Flyers Postgame Blog: Statement Win; Vladar Bounces Back; Vintage Couturier
· Yahoo Sports
The Philadelphia Flyers made a statement on Saturday. It was a dominating 7-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets that lowered the team’s magic number to just three points to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
It started early, and with the exception of a slip here and there, the foot never fully came off the gas.
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Porter Martone got the scoring started with a play turning defense to offense, and showing his skill and poise. They gave up the next goal, but did not let it slow them down. The Flyers scored six unanswered to close the game and controlled nearly the entire game.
They made a statement.
The Flyers had six different goal scorers, two defensemen, a fourth-liner, and a short-handed goal. To cap it all off, the Flyers got phenomenal goaltending.
It was a mix of the Flyers’ youth and veterans that showed up for them on Saturday. That was exactly the kind of game the Flyers needed to wipe the loss against the Red Wings.
Read More: Flyers Dominate Jets on Saturday; Magic Number Moves to 3, for Now
Flyers got vintage Sean Couturier on Saturday
Sean Couturier has found his spot. The Flyers’ captain was put on the 4th line late in the season. He is seeing a much smaller role and less ice time. Not every captain can accept that spot, but Couturier has, and he is thriving.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” said Couturier. “We’re in a great spot, the team is doing well, and I am just trying to do my best in my role to help the team win.”
The Flyers got a vintage performance from Sean Couturier on Saturday. Two goals and an assist from the captain against the Jets. His defensive instincts never left him, but his scoring touch returned on Saturday.
His first goal was a missile sent past one of the best goalies in the game. The second goal made the Jets’ backup look silly. Couturier scored a power goal and a skill goal.
Not to mention, he was one of the best players along the boards on either team. His excellent play along the boards set up the Sanheim goal in the second period.
Couturier led the Flyers in ice time with 17:01, and he earned every second of it.
Dan Vladar’s bounce-back game
After Thursday’s game, we talked about how Dan Vladar might have been running low on fuel. He was pulled after 25 minutes of action against the Red Wings. He allowed 4 goals on 8 shots.
The Jets scored on just their second shot of the game. Vladar stopped a shot with the glove, but could not hang on, allowing a second-chance and missing a save that he makes 9 times out of 10. After the last time out, it looked like the beginning of a long night.
Instead, Vladar locked himself in and was unbelievable on Saturday. I mean, it was one of his best games of the season. Vladar truly looked sharp. He was making big stops, consecutive saves, and was finding ways to kill chances on his own.
Vladar finished the game with 27 saves on 28 shots. It was the kind of bounce-back game the Flyers’ No. 1 netminder needed.
Defense needs to be better down the stretch
If we’re going to be nitpicky in a nearly perfect game, the defense is the one spot I will pick apart a bit.
It did not kill them on Saturday, but the Flyers need to be better defensively.
Again, Vladar was spectacular on Saturday, bailing out the defense on multiple occasions. The second period got a little dicey for the Flyers early. While only leading by two, the Jets had a long possession, just firing at will against Vladar. It did not matter; he stopped it all.
The Jets dramatically outchanced the Flyers, too. Per NaturalStatTrick, Winnipeg had 31 scoring chances compared to Philly’s 18. Winnipeg even led the game in expected goals. Though the 2.37 xGA does not tell the story of the Flyers’ defense on Saturday.
Now, it’s on to the next game and back home in Philly for the Flyers, who can control their destiny by earning 3 more points.
Read More: The Flyers Youth is Leading the Push for a Playoff Spot
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