The Flyers finally found the kind of scoring burst they’d been waiting for, and it carried them to a 6-3 win over the Utah Mammoth on Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Philadelphia entered the night with a season-high six goals and got them from all over the lineup: Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny, Noah Cates, Christian Dvorak, Oliver Bonk and Cole Knuble all scored. Utah answered with goals from Dmitri Simashev, Mikhail Sergachev and Logan Cooley, but the Flyers did enough early and late to finish the job.
The opening period belonged to Utah in terms of puck possession and pressure. The Mammoth spent about 10 minutes hemming the Flyers into their own end, using their speed to make it difficult for Philadelphia to get much going. Outside of a strong shift from Konecny and the Flyers’ top line, chances were scarce.
Still, the Flyers grabbed the first goal on a bit of puck luck through Michkov. Utah got the equalizer from Simashev, and by the first intermission the game was tied 1-1.
That scoreline was almost flattering for Philadelphia, which had already killed off two Utah power plays and watched Dan Vladar face a steady stream of shots. The Mammoth held a 9-7 edge in shots after 20 minutes.
The second period turned the game. Konecny and Cates scored early to give the Flyers control, and the momentum swung hard in Philadelphia’s direction after a first period that had tilted the other way. Utah pushed back, but the Flyers held them off the board the rest of the period and took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission while outshooting the Mammoth 9-5 in the frame.
Philadelphia then added another layer of separation early in the third. Dvorak scored to make it 4-1, and Bonk followed with another to put the Flyers in firm command. Utah made things uncomfortable late with back-to-back power-play goals from Sergachev and Cooley, but Knuble’s empty-netter shut the door.
The scoring plays told the story of how the Flyers built the win. Konecny’s goal in the second came after Jamie Drysdale settled the puck and fed him down low, where Konecny flipped it on Karel Vejmelka and watched it slip through.
Cates’ goal came off work by Konecny and Drysdale, with Travis Sanheim setting him up in the slot. Dvorak finished a sequence started by Sanheim and Konecny early in the third, and Knuble sealed it with help from Noel Acciari and Drysdale.
The game also had its share of penalties and scrums. Jamie Drysdale was called for holding in the first period, and Porter Martone took a hooking penalty later in the frame.
A second-period scrum near the Mammoth bench sent Logan Cooley, Mikhail Sergachev and Trevor Zegras to the box, while Konecny also picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct minor, leaving the teams at 5-on-5. Philadelphia’s first power play came when Andrew Peeke was called for interference on Knuble.
In the third, Simon Benoit was penalized for tripping Jack McBain, then later fought Lawson Crouse after a roughing minor had already been called on Crouse. Sean Couturier was whistled for hooking Clayton Keller late, and Noah Cates was sent off for tripping Barrett Hayton, giving Utah more chances to make a push.
The Flyers lined up with Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny on the top line, while Michkov skated with Porter Martone and Cates. Dan Vladar started in goal, with Joseph Woll listed behind him. Utah countered with Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther up front, and Karel Vejmelka in net.
Philadelphia’s 6-3 finish gave the Flyers a much-needed return to the win column, and it came with the kind of scoring depth they’d been chasing.
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