PHILADELPHIA — As the Flyers learned on Monday that one of their leading scorers, Jakub Voracek, would be out at least two weeks with a lower-body injury, the need was crucial for a secondary scorer to step up in his place.
And with Ron Hextall standing pat at today's Trade Deadline — just the third time the Flyers (29-22-11) have done that since 1997 — that need would have to come from someone already established on the roster. No reinforcements would be able to come by way of another squad.
Enter Brayden Schenn. Schenn recorded three goals over the first two periods — for his first-career hat trick — in a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames, giving the Flyers their third-consecutive win.
Wayne Simmonds scored two goals — including an empty-netter — as well, while Claude Giroux earned a four-point night. With the primary assist on Schenn's second goal, Andrew MacDonald earned his first point of the 2015-16 season.
Schenn's goals — his 19th, 20th and 21st of the season — set a new career-high for goals as well. It's the second time he's crossed the 20-goal plateau in his career, and his first 20-goal campaign since 2013-14.
Sean Monahan opened the scoring for the Flames (26-32-4), with a powerplay goal from South Jersey's own Johnny Gaudreau. Michael Ferland and Michael Frolik added goals just 50 seconds apart with 8:53 to play the third period, giving the Flyers a tenuous one-goal lead.
In his fourth-consecutive start, Michal Neuvirth kept up his steady play, with 29 saves on 32 shots. Jonas Hiller countered with 24 saves on 28 shots.
The Orange and Black capitalized on two of three power-play opportunities, while the Flames went 1-for-4.
With the win, the Flyers still sit three points out of a playoff spot. Pittsburgh's 6-0 whitewashing of Arizona (also on Monday) does not help them in the slightest.
In a ceremony prior to the game, the Flyers inducted preeminent Broad Street Bullies defenseman Jimmy Watson into the Flyers Hall of Fame. Watson becomes the second Flyer inducted this season (after Rod Brind'Amour), and 25th overall.
The Flyers' six-game homestand next continues on Thursday, when they welcome Alberta's other team — the Edmonton Oilers — to Wells Fargo Center.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
