After seven straight periods, two overtimes, two shutout losses and then some, it was finally over.
Jake Voracek's pass to the slot was tipped into the net by Brayden Schenn. Goalless drought over, just like that.
But it would take overtime for the Flyers to get a second point they had appeared to earn with a strong second period. A third-period rally by the Hurricanes forced the extra session. In overtime, it took just 24 seconds to end things as Shayne Gostisbehere fired a shot past Eddie Lack for the game-winning, power-play goal to give the Flyers a 3-2 overtime win.
The Flyers came out with a strong first period, taking 11 shots to the Hurricanes 10, but failed to beat Lack on a couple of prime chances.
One such chance came at 17:06 when Noah Hanifin interfered with Brayden Schenn's breakaway chance, resulting in a penalty shot. Schenn failed to convert as Lack stayed with Schenn's backhand attempt.
With the Flyers scoreless streak piling up past 160 minutes and approaching 170, the Flyers were getting all sorts of quality chances in the second and just not finding the back of the net.
Finally, at 10:20 of the second, the Flyers converted.
On a power play, Claude Giroux connected on a cross-ice pass to Voracek. Voracek carried the puck a couple of steps toward the goal line before feathering a pass in the slot that hit off the stick of Brayden Schenn and into the net.
The Flyers goalless drought was snapped at 167:54.
It took the Flyers just 4:48 to score the next goal. Sean Couturier led a shorthanded two-on-one and let a far shot go shortly after entering the zone took a shot that hit off the glove of Lack and left a juicy rebound for Giroux, who was right there to bury it. It was the Flyers first shorthanded goal of the season.
The Flyers continued to apply pressure in the third, but it was the Hurricanes that would get the next goal to make things interesting.
A long shot by John-Michael Liles was stopped by the left pad of Michal Neuvirth, but the rebound caromed to Victor Rask who was able to beat Neuvirth to cut the Flyers lead in half.
With just 3:45 to play in the third, and after an onslaught of shots, the Hurricanes finally tied it. A point shot by Ron Hainsey was stopped by Neuvirth, but the rebound went right to Brett Pesce who put it home to tie the game.
The Hurricanes outshot the Flyers, 17-6, in the third.
Just 11 seconds into the overtime, a good effort by Couturier drew a penalty on Carolina. It took just 15 seconds for the Flyers to get set up, and when they were Giroux put a pass into the high slot for Gostisbehere who fired a high shot past Lack for the game-winner.
The Flyers outshot the Hurricanes for the game, 35-30. The Flyers were 2-for-4 on the power play while the Hurricanes were 0-for-5. Neuvirth made 31 saves in picking up his fourth win of the season.
The Flyers return to action on Wednesday night when they take to the road to face the New York Islanders.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
