The Flyers avoided a second straight loss on Tuesday night.
But they may have suffered two more losses in the personnel department.
Alain Vigneault’s club has recovered from their worst home defeat since the head coach was hired in April 2019 by defeating Sabers 3-0 at the Wells Fargo Center.
After an explosion of 11 goals in two wins over the Penguins, the Flyers managed just four goals in their consecutive set with Buffalo. However, considering the 6-1 beating they suffered on Sabbath Monday, a split will look like a steak dinner for the Flyers as they go on their first trip.
Travis Konecny, Jakub Voracek and Kevin Hayes (empty) scored the goals on Tuesday night, while Brian Elliott was excellent in his first start to the season.
The victory may have come at a price, as Philippe Myers and Morgan Frost left with injuries and did not return.
The Flyers (3-1-0) have not lost consecutive home games since 13-23 November 2019, when they lost three consecutive games on the ice, all after regulation. The Sabers (1-3-0) had a chance to change that, but were silenced by Elliott.
• Elliott has been very valuable to the Flyers and Carter Hart as a veteran reserve. With the Flyers having some trouble avoiding shots against the Sabers, Elliott shut down 40 rescues.
Two of these stops occurred in succession and were of the variety of prominent reels during the first period with the goalless game.
Elliott’s 40 saves were those of a Flyers goalkeeper in a shutout since November 2014, when Steve Mason recorded 46 stops in a 1-0 loss to the Islanders.
Elliott had a hard time spelling Hart during two critical moments in the last regular season.
More impressive things from the trusted 35-year-old man on Tuesday night.
• Give credit to the Flyers for the way they tightened things up defensively. Throwing a shutout one night after conceding six goals is a great response early in the season.
Back in January, they always got back on the horse.
• The Flyers were defeated in all four games, with three of them by double-digit margins.
But they were substantially better on Tuesday night on their ball-based, competition-oriented and chasing system. They also played two periods with five defenders and the third period with 11 attackers.
Good resolution and timely execution.
• Konecny recovered from a breakout by scoring his fourth goal in four games, giving the Flyers a 1-0 lead at the end of the second period.
Oskar Lindblom sent him a beautiful pass to the bank. Huge goal, as the Flyers fell into an offensive mini spell and just lost Frost moments before the game.
Konecny and Lindblom were centered by Nolan Patrick, creating a young and promising line.
“We all love each other on and off the ice,” said Lindblom, “so when we play together, we’re having fun.”
• Voracek’s goal was huge and Hayes found it in play before the center froze the game.
The Flyers are 24-0-1 in games in which Hayes scores a goal, including the regular season and the playoffs.
• The Flyers hit the road for the first time this season when they faced the Bruins in Boston on Thursday (19h ET / NBCSP) and Saturday (19h ET / NBCSP).
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