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The Flyers avoided a second straight loss Tuesday night.
But they may have suffered two more losses in the personnel department.
Alain Vigneault’s club rebounded from their worst home loss since hiring the head coach in April 2019 by shutting out the Sabers, 3-0, at the Wells Fargo Center.
After exploding 11 goals in a pair of wins against the Penguins, the Flyers have managed just four goals in their back-to-back set with Buffalo. However, given the 6-1 shot they took on Monday from the Sabers, a split will look like a steak dinner for the Flyers as they head to their first road trip.
Travis Konecny, Jakub Voracek and Kevin Hayes (empty net) provided the goals on Tuesday night, while Brian Elliott was superb in his first start of the season.
The victory may have come at a cost as Philippe Myers and Morgan Frost both came out injured and did not return.
The Flyers (3-1-0) have not lost consecutive home games since November 13 and 23, 2019, when they have lost three in a row on their ice, all after settlement. The Sabers (1-3-0) had a chance to change that but were calmed down by Elliott.
• Elliott has been so invaluable to the Flyers and Carter Hart as a veteran substitute. With the Flyers struggling to prevent shots against the heaviest Sabers, Elliott made a 40-save shutout.
Two of those saves came in succession and were of the variety of highlights during the first period with the scoreless play.
Elliott’s 40 saves were the most scored by a Flyers goaltender in a shutout since November 2014, when Steve Mason recorded 46 saves in a 1-0 shootout loss to the Islanders.
Elliott was embroiled in the Hart spelling in two critical moments last regular season.
More awesome stuff from the reliable 35-year-old on Tuesday night.
• Give credit to the Flyers for the way they have tightened things up defensively. Throwing a shutout one night after being blown up for six goals is an important response early in the season.
To come back to last January, they always got back on horseback.
• The Flyers have been edged out in each of their four games, three of which have double-digit margins.
But they were significantly better on Tuesday night in their competitive, possession-oriented possession system. They also played two periods with five defenders and the third period with 11 forwards.
Good resolution and fast execution.
• Konecny broke away on a breakaway when he scored his fourth goal in four games to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead at the end of the second period.
Oskar Lindblom threw him a nice bank pass. Massive goal as the Flyers fell in an offensive mini spell and had just lost Frost moments before the game.
Konecny and Lindblom were centered by Nolan Patrick making them a young rising line.
“We all love each other on and off the ice,” said Lindblom, “so when we play together we have fun.
• Voracek’s goal was huge and Hayes found it on play before the cross froze the game.
The Flyers are 24-0-1 in games where Hayes scores a goal, including the regular season and the playoffs.
• The Flyers hit the road for the first time this season when they face the Bruins in Boston on Thursday (7 p.m. ET / NBCSP) and Saturday (7 p.m. ET / NBCSP).
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