- Travis Konecny returns from a 10-game absence with a goal and an assist in a 6-3 Flyers win over Utah
- Sean Couturier called the team “soft” after Wednesday’s 5-2 loss in Washington
- Read below for how Konecny changed the energy and what else went right for Philadelphia
Travis Konecny’s return gave the Flyers the kind of edge their captain said was missing.
Konecny scored a goal and added an assist in Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Utah Mammoth, his first game after missing 10 with a lower-body injury. It came four days after Sean Couturier called this group “soft.” Konecny also piled up four hits and got involved in several post-whistle scrums at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Couturier was asked about the team’s battle level after Wednesday’s 5-2 loss at the Capitals and did not sugarcoat it.
“At times this year, we’re soft, I would say,” Couturier said. “But, yeah, we definitely need to pick up our physicality. It goes into competing as well, I think.”
After Sunday’s win, Couturier explained what Konecny brings to the lineup.
“In the game within the game where he’s emotionally invested, yapping out there and getting himself involved after whistles, it kind of brings everyone in the fight,” Couturier said. “I think that’s the kind of energy that we’ve been missing lately.”
Check out the Flyers’ postgame scrums:
Konecny’s line with Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras combined for two goals, two assists and a plus-8 rating. Konecny set up Dvorak’s goal at 1:02 of the third period that made it 4-1. He has been the subject of trade chatter this season, as we covered earlier this month, but he looked like a player Philadelphia needs on this night.
The Flyers also finally got some offense. Six goals is a season high for a team that entered averaging an NHL-low 1.93 per game, and the old high was five in a 5-4 loss to the Ducks on Oct. 24.
Matvei Michkov opened the scoring at 12:49 of the first period for his 10th goal in 16 games. He is the fifth Flyer in the past 20 seasons to reach 10 goals in 16 games or fewer, joining Simon Gagne, Jeff Carter, Konecny and Couturier. Jamie Drysdale had three assists, Noah Cates had a goal and an assist, and Oliver Bonk and Cole Knuble (empty net) also scored.
Here’s how the Flyers framed Konecny making an impact right away:
Utah made it interesting late with two power-play goals in a span of about a minute to pull within 5-3. Couturier admitted the penalty he took late gave the Mammoth life. Knuble’s empty-netter sealed it.
Philadelphia improved to 4-8-4 and snapped a three-game losing streak.
