The Philadelphia Flyers have been one of the NHL’s biggest surprises this season, and their current run might be the biggest surprise of all.
Owen Tippett stole the puck in the Devils’ zone and scored with 1:35 left in overtime, securing a 3-2 victory for the Flyers over New Jersey on Tuesday night. This win extended their point streak to nine games.
Flyers’ Impressive Run
“It’s fun,” said Flyers goaltender Sam Ersson, who made 24 saves, extending his personal streak to 7-0-1 in his last eight starts. “The confidence is growing in our locker room. We’re having a lot of fun, but it’s important for us to stay in the moment as a group.”
Ryan Poehling scored both regulation goals for the Flyers, who are 8-0-1 in their point streak, placing them second in the Metropolitan Division. This achievement is significant for a team that missed the playoffs last season.
“We’re not the most skilled, and we’re not the prettiest team, but we compete hard and believe in one another,” Poehling said. “Consistency is key in the NHL, and night in and night out, that’s what we do.”
Devils’ Struggles at Home
Michael McLeod and Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils, who are 6-7-2 at home. Vitek Vanecek made 23 saves, including two crucial ones in overtime.
“One of the strong points for good teams is playing well at home,” said Nathan Bastian, who assisted on McLeod’s goal. “For whatever reason, we’ve struggled with that, and we’re working on it.”
Game-Winning Goal
Tippett scored his 11th goal after intercepting a failed pass from Jack Hughes intended for his brother, Luke Hughes, and snapping a shot into the net.
Devils coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged that Jack Hughes made mistakes with his passing, leading to opportunities for the Flyers.
“He’s capable of making special plays,” Ruff said. “But tonight, there were some errant passes. He’s still young and has a lot to learn.”
Game Summary
The Devils took a one-goal lead in the first two periods, only to see Poehling tie the game for the Flyers. McLeod opened the scoring at 14:16 of the first period, but Poehling equalized early in the second after a Jack Hughes turnover.
Bratt ended the Flyers’ streak of 24 consecutive penalty kills shortly after, scoring his 13th goal off a rebound from Nico Hischier’s shot.
Travis Konecny set up Poehling’s second goal with a cross-ice pass during a 2-on-1 break at 8:19 of the second period.
Upcoming Games
- Flyers: Host the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
- Devils: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
