Philly extends point streak to nine games with win over New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J – After concentrating on defense all season, Ryan Poehling decided to cut loose with a little offense on Tuesday night.

The result was a pair of goals, doubling his season total (which was two), and it helped the Flyers gain two points in a 3-2 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center.

With the point, the Flyers extended their streak with at least one point to nine (8-0-1) games.

Owen Tippett scored the winning goal at 3:25 of overtime when he stole a puck off a blocked pass from Jack Hughes.

“I think in the third period we did a good job of not sitting back,” Tippett said. “It goes a long way. There’s a lot of belief in this room.”

Both of Poehling’s goals came in the second period and brought the Flyers back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits.

Poehling’s first goal came at 1:10 of the second period. He stole a puck from the Devils, worked a give-and-go with Joel Farabee and shot a puck past goaltender Vitek Vanacek.

Then, after the Devils scored on a power play (a goal by Jesper Bratt, ending the Flyers’ streak of 24 straight road kills) at 2:44, Poehling went at it again. This time Poehling finished off a feed from Travis Konency at 8:19.

Poehling has skated most of the season on a fourth line with grinders Nick Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway. There hasn’t been much in the way of group offense on that unit.

But with Noah Cates out for a couple months due to injury, Poehling has been skating on higher lines. On Tuesday night he was working between Tippett and Bobby Brink.

“He (Poehling) has been great all year,” Tippett said. “When he gets those chances, he shows off his skill and his shot. For him to get a couple tonight, it’s big for the team and for him personally. It’s great to see.”

Poehling has been playing the good soldier, not griping about not working with skilled players like Farabee. Now he’s getting rewarded.

“I’ve played with Joel a few times before,” Poehling said. “We played World Junior together. Everytime we do, I love how he plays. He’s so skilled with the puck. He’s an easy guy to play with.”

The Flyers lost to the Devils in OT earlier in the season. They wanted to turn the tables.

Flyers goalie Sam Ersson, once again playing in place of Carter Hart (illness) extended his personal streak to 5-0-1. He looks sure of himself on every shot he faces.