The Philadelphia Flyers ended their six-game winless streak with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights on January 15, 2024. The game, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, featured two remarkable shorthanded goals from forward Travis Konecny, which played a crucial role in the Flyers’ success. This win not only halted Philadelphia’s streak of six games without a victory but also brought an end to the Golden Knights’ impressive seven-game winning streak.
Konecny’s first goal came early in the game at 3:46 of the first period. He intercepted a pass attempt from a Vegas defenseman, seized the opportunity, and scored against Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill. This quick start gave the Flyers a lead they managed to maintain until late in the second period. However, a penalty by Noah Cates allowed the Golden Knights to capitalize, with Tomas Hertl scoring a power-play goal just before the second intermission, leveling the score at 1-1.
The third period saw the Flyers regain the lead thanks to Konecny’s second goal of the night, again stemming from a mistake by the Golden Knights. He converted a breakaway opportunity after a turnover from Jack Eichel at 7:22, showcasing his ability to take advantage of crucial moments in the game.
Despite a late penalty against the Flyers that put them at a disadvantage with only 1:33 remaining, they successfully defended against the Golden Knights’ six-on-four advantage, securing the victory. The Flyers’ defense and stellar goaltending from Sam Ersson, who made critical saves throughout the game, contributed significantly to the win. This was Ersson’s first victory since December 23, 2023, and he expressed relief and gratitude for the team’s performance.
In a post-game interview, Konecny emphasized the importance of the win, stating, “It was big. Starting off the road trip with this. Coming in and playing a veteran team that plays well at home. I thought we did a great job; our penalty kill was awesome.” Ersson echoed Konecny’s sentiments, stating, “It was huge. The guys played great. The PK did a great job all night. In tough times, you’ve got to trust your game even more.”
Coach Rick Tocchet praised Konecny and Ersson, highlighting their contributions and the team’s effective penalty kill. “A lot of our players showed gutsy effort,” Tocchet remarked. “The penalty kill is a confidence builder. Konecny is a great guy to coach. He knows when he screws up; he puts it on himself.”
The Flyers’ penalty kill unit was particularly effective, successfully neutralizing six out of seven power-play opportunities for the Golden Knights. This marked a significant improvement for the Flyers, who had struggled with penalties in previous games. Tocchet had stressed the need for discipline, noting that the team had been averaging 10.8 penalty minutes per game, ranking fourth in the NHL.
In addition to the victory, the Flyers made roster changes prior to the game. Goaltender Dan Vladar was placed on injured reserve retroactive to January 14, 2024, while Bobby Brink was activated for the match. Forward Lane Pederson, recently called up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, made his Flyers debut, centering the fourth line.
Looking ahead, the Flyers will continue their road trip with a matchup in Utah on January 17, 2024. The team aims to build on this much-needed victory and maintain their momentum as they strive for improved performance in the remainder of the season.
