Larry Henry Jr
The Philadelphia Flyers remained in the heat of the Eastern Conference playoff race with another win at the Wells Fargo Center.
Travis Konecny recorded a three-point game, Claude Giroux made team history, and Carter Hart made 28 saves in a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was the Flyers’ 20th home win of the season, which saw them move to third place in the Metropolitan Division.
“It’s huge, we knew this was probably the biggest game of the year and now the next one is the biggest of the year,” Konecny said. “We wanted to put a staple on this game and now we have to take care of business on the road. We have to keep believing in ourselves and keep doing the things that have made us successful.”
Alain Vigneault’s team raced out to a 2-0 lead, scoring both goals in the opening five minutes of the game. Kevin Hayes’ wrist shot broke the deadlock 3:28 into the opening period, after Travis Konecny and Joel Farabee recorded the assists.
Claude Giroux added his 29th assist of the season, setting up Sean Couturier who beat Elvis Merzlinkis for his 18th tally. It was a comfortable opening 20 minutes for the Flyers who never looked back against their East rivals.
Phillippe Myers’ shot deflected in with 7:28 remaining in the second period added to the Flyers lead as Travis Sanheim and Nicolas Aube-Kubel picked up the helpers. Oliver Bjorkstrand’s power play goal pulled one back for John Tortorella’s team, but it would be their only goal of the night.
Luck? @philmyers06 makes his own luck. #CBJvsPHI | #NowOrNever pic.twitter.com/5uOHRyy0UR
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 19, 2020
Konecny’s tip-in finish continued the Flyers strong evening before Jake Voracek’s power play goal iced the final score at 5-1. Giroux’s second assist of the night would be a historical one as the captain passed legend Bobby Clarke for the Flyers all-time lead in power play assists with 235.
The G's knees. #CBJvsPHI | #NowOrNever pic.twitter.com/LzDRGkd3sB
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 19, 2020
“It was pretty cool to be on the ice with him when it happened and he’s been such a great player for the Flyers for a long time so we knew it would happen eventually,” Konecny on Giroux breaking Clarke’s record. “Him making that play from his knees is something special and we know he is capable of doing those sorts of things.”
The Flyers move to 73 points this season, remaining in the top eight in the Eastern Conference. Up next is a second of a home-and-home with the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Thursday.
Philadelphia returns home on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets (1 p.m. CSN Philly).