Flyers all Hart against Canucks
PHILADELPHIA — Carter Hart’s incredible stop saved the game and the Flyers’ winning streak.
Hart turned away 41 shots — including a stellar right arm save late in the third period — Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek scored, and Philadelphia beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Monday night for its eighth straight victory.
The Flyers pulled within five points of a playoff spot after having the NHL’s worst record on Jan. 9 — they were 14 points out of a post-season berth during the all-star break just over a week ago. Philadelphia also became the first NHL expansion club to reach 2,000 victories
Hart, Philadelphia’s 20-year-old rookie, won his seventh straight start with another solid game. His best stop came with 5 12 ⁄ minutes left when he dived with his right arm to block Nikolay Goldobin from a sharp angle on a power play, drawing “CAR-TER! CAR-TER!” chants from the crowd.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than that save,” Flyers interim coach Scott Gordon said. “It’s one of those plays that you’re watching it happen and feeling it’s going in the net. And the next thing you know, everyone on the bench was like, ‘Wow!’ ”
Vancouver’s Elias Petterson took a slap shot from the right circle that caromed off teammate Bo Horvat’s skate in front and to a wide-open Goldobin at the side of the net. Hart tracked the puck and lunged to his right.
“I just kind of saw the play bounce out to that guy on the side, just dove across and hoped it would hit me and it did,” Hart said.
His teammates were more demonstrative.
“He’s making some miracles out there,” Couturier said. “It’s nice to have him back there.”
Brock Boeser scored for Vancouver.
The game was delayed for several minutes midway through the third period after Vancouver’s Alexander Edler went down with a scary-looking injury. Edler’s skate got caught in Voracek’s stick, causing Edler to land facefirst on the ice. With a bloodied face and dazed look, a conscious Edler was wheeled off on a stretcher while sitting upright.
Canucks coach Travis Green said after the game that Edler had gone for X-rays.
Green was happy with Vancouver’s effort and credited Hart and the Flyers.
“Sometimes you play a great game and lose,” he said.
Voracek scored on a breakaway 3:20 into the second period to put Philadelphia up 2-0. After Canucks defenceman Christopher Tanev whiffed on a pass at the blue line, Philadelphia’s Phil Varone lifted a pass ahead to perfectly set up Voracek. The Flyers forward deked to his forehand and shot just past the outstretched right pad of Jacob Markstrom with a highlight-reel finish.
Vancouver got on the board 1:54 later after a rare mistake by Hart. Hart came way out of his crease to deny Brandon Sutter of a breakaway, but the goalie’s clearing attempt went off the boards and right to Boeser, who fired into the vacated net for his 18th goal of the season and fourth in the last seven contests.
Maple Leafs 6, Ducks 1
TORONTO — Andreas Johnsson buried two goals as part of a fourpoint night, Jake Muzzin scored once and added two assists for his first three points with Toronto, and the Maple Leafs thumped the free-falling Anaheim Ducks 6-1 on Monday.
William Nylander and John Tavares, with a goal and an assist each, and Connor Brown also scored for Toronto (32-17-3).