Flyers Win Fourth Straight in Comeback Over Leafs

12-12-2017_FlyersvsLeafs_1st_credKateFrese-4

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

The Philadelphia Flyers win their fourth straight game in a 4-2 comeback effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

By Dan Heaning, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

Fortune continues to smile on the Philadelphia Flyers after their 10-game winless skid as the Orange and Black claimed their fourth straight victory, this time, in a 4-2 come from behind outing over one of the Eastern Conference's top teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

From the second period on Philadelphia had control of the game territorially, but trailed 2-1.

However, five and half minutes into the third period, Taylor Leier deflected a shot from the point by Travis Konecny to tie the game at two. The entire shift was made possible by Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen misplaying the puck which allowed Scott Laughton to force a turnover. From there, the Flyers fourth unit did not relinquish control of the puck until it was in the back of the net.

Nearly 12 minutes later, Claude Giroux let a no-look pass from the Toronto bench go to Sean Couturier. The Flyers top line center found the pass a little too far for his initial reach, but tracked down the disc and let a wrist shot go that beat Andersen above his glove.

While not given many accolades or points for his role in the game-tying goal, Laughton was rewarded when he put the game away with the empty net goal that sealed the win for Philadelphia.

Yet, the Flyers trailed going into the final frame thanks to James van Riemsdyk, who continues to haunt the club that drafted him second overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft then traded him away for Luke Schenn in 2012.

After Jake Voracek took a tripping minor on Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly let a shot from the point go and van Riemsdyk's tip was able to change the direction of the puck enough to fool Flyers goaltender Brian Elliott and put the Leafs up for good.

Without Auston Matthews, the Leafs weren't eager to open up the offense. Instead, they played a defensive game akin to the one they played against Edmonton that resulted in a 1-0 victory, but that style only hurt them in this game as the Flyers mustered up 14 shots in the second period and then 18 in the third while Toronto never cracked the double-digit mark in any stanza.

Philadelphia opened the scoring when Claude Giroux let a howitzer rip after Sean Couturier won the faceoff in the Toronto end. Leafs coach Mike Babcock was irate after the goal because Patrick Marleau was chased from the faceoff circle and Zach Hyman take the veteran's place. Hyman stood no chance against Couturier while taking the draw which allowed the Flyers center to set up the captain for the goal.

A mere 27 seconds later, Marleau and Hyman got their revenge as Marleau took an odd angle shot off the rush that squeaked through Elliott. Hyman and Ron Hainsey assisted on the goal.

Despite the soft goal, Elliott rebounded nicely to stop 21 of 22 shots in the game.

The Flyers will return on Thursday as they host Jack Eichel and the woeful Buffalo Sabres. The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia and is set for a 7 p.m. start.

Box Score

  1 2 3 T
Leafs 1 1 0 2
Flyers 1 0 3 4

Scoring Summary

1st Period

  • PHI -  Claude Giroux (13, 9:21) from Sean Couturier (15)
  • TOR – Patrick Marleau (11, 9:48) from Zach Hyman (10) and Ron Hainsey (12)

2nd Period

  • TOR – James van Riemsdyk (15,  16:50) from Morgan Rielly (17) and Mitch Marner (18)

3rd Period

  • PHI – Taylor Leier (2, 5:36) from Travis Konecny (7) and Robert Hagg (4)
  • PHI – Sean Couturier (15, 17:05) from Claude Giroux (21) and Wayne Simmonds (9)
  • PHI – Scott Laughton (5, 19:44) from Michael Raffl (3)

Game Statistics

  Flyers Leafs
Shots 39 22
Power Plays 0/1 1/1
Hits 22 18
Faceoff % 56% 44%
Giveaways 11 10
Takeaways 5 6
Blocked Shots 11 12
Penalty Minutes 2 2
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