On Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers aim to maintain their recent success on home ice as they face off against the St. Louis Blues.
In their latest match against the Ottawa Senators, the Flyers secured a 4-2 victory with Tyson Foerster netting two goals.
Despite facing injuries to important players like Travis Konecny and Jamie Drysdale, Foerster has stepped up admirably, scoring six goals in the past five games. Notably, his impressive performance follows a period of absence due to a foot injury.
“You just have to keep pushing,” remarked Foerster. “At the start of the year, I had numerous opportunities that just weren’t converting. Now, things are finally starting to click.”
Despite being anticipated as a rebuilding season, the Flyers have consistently surpassed expectations.
Throughout this season, whenever it seems like the Flyers might be faltering, they manage to bounce back.
Although they couldn’t maintain a 2-0 lead and suffered a 5-2 defeat on the road against the Washington Capitals on Friday, they rebounded the following night with an impressive victory over the Senators.
“You don’t need to micromanage the team,” stated Philadelphia coach John Tortorella on Saturday. “They’ve shown great self-assessment throughout the year. I had complete confidence heading into tonight’s game that they would respond in the right manner.”
Goaltender Felix Sandstrom made his NHL return after nearly a year since his last game on April 13, 2023. He was called up from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Feb. 24 and delivered a solid performance in his season debut, making 24 saves.
Leading the Flyers to another victory was Foerster, showcasing a well-rounded performance.
“It’s not just about scoring; he’s also one of our top defensive players,” noted Tortorella. “So, I’ve been relying on him heavily throughout the year.”
The Blues head to Philadelphia off the back of an impressive 3-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 21 saves, helping the Blues break a three-game losing streak.
With his 138th win, Binnington moved into third place on the Blues’ all-time wins list, while Torey Krug contributed with a goal and an assist, and Jake Neighbours and Alexey Toropchenko each added a goal.
“It’s crucial. We’re about to embark on a road trip and we’re a few points behind, so collecting as many points as possible at home is vital,” said Krug. “It’s not only crucial for our team but also for our confidence and momentum going forward.”
Toropchenko’s goal marked his 10th of the season, equaling his career high.
“Brandon Saad went into the corner, then turned and found Scotty (Scott Perunovich) at the blue line,” Toropchenko explained. “I positioned myself in front of the net, shielding two defenders behind me, and Scotty found me. I adjusted my stick position and it paid off.”
Despite not being flawless, the 3-1 win was significant for a team aiming to break their losing streak.
“We haven’t performed well in similar situations before,” said St. Louis coach Drew Bannister. “Although we didn’t play our best, we managed to secure the win. It’s an important victory for us, and we need to use this momentum as we head onto the road.”
