VANCOUVER (BC) — Sean Couturier scored a goal and assisted as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Wednesday.
James van Riemsdyk scored for the Flyers on the power play, while Claude Giroux had two assists. Quinn Hughes scored on behalf of the Canucks.
The night started quickly with three goals scored by the teams in seven minutes. Two of those were 1:53 apart.
Flyer goaltender Martin Jones, a Vancouver native, stopped 27 shots. Jaroslav Halak, Oilers’ goaltender, stopped 26 shots.
With 1:20 remaining, the Canucks had a chance when Flyer defenseman Ivan Provoro got called for tripping. Vancouver was able to score two shots with Halak pulled.
Although the Flyers had been playing in Edmonton the night before, they showed more speed and were able to control the puck earlier, but the Canucks took the game over as the game progressed.
Just 22 seconds into the second, Philadelphia scored a goal against Vancouver by taking advantage of a poor Vancouver pinch. Travis Konency jumped behind the Canuck defense, and passed to Couturier, who beat Halak on both sides.
Hughes tied the game at 2:15 when he shot from the blue line, which appeared to hit Jones and deflect past him.
Philadelphia took the lead at 6:58 and needed only 10 seconds to capitalize on Hughes’ interference call.
Giroux made a great play by banking the puck off of the back boards. Couturier took the puck and passed it to van Riemsdyk who scored into an open goal.
In the second period, the Canucks outshot 16-5 the Flyers but couldn’t score. After Jones had stopped a shot, Juho Lammikko was the Vancouver’s best chance. Lammikko won the rebound on the doorstep. Jones saved the shot.
Soon after, Halak stopped Couturier, who was a great scoring opportunity on a Philadelphia power play.
NOTES: Although the Canucks won the first game, they were outshot 15-4 by the Canucks in the second period. In Philadelphia’s six games, Giroux scored a point. Vancouver won their first game of the season against Flyers with a shootout win on the road, 5-4. … Zack MacEwen, a former Canuck, had a lively second-period fight against Luke Schenn. …. The Canucks were without Tucker Poolman (defenseman), who was injured in an accident against Minnesota on Tuesday. … The Flyers beat the Oilers 5-3 in Edmonton on Wednesday night. …. Keith Yandle, Philadelphia defenseman, played his 928th consecutive match. He last missed a regular-season game in March 2009.
NEXT
Philadelphia: Calgary, Saturday night, to conclude its Canadian road trip.
Vancouver: Hosts Edmonton on Saturday night.
