Flyers outlast Blackhawks for crucial division win

Left: Philadelphia Flyers, Right: Chicago Blackhawks – CC

In a tight Metropolitan Division race, the Philadelphia Flyers secured an essential 3-1 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

John Tortorella’s team was determined to put their recent 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils behind them and obtain valuable points.

At United Center, Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson stopped 21 shots as Philadelphia held off Chicago, strengthening their third-place position in the division.

The Blackhawks, last in the league standings with a mere 33 points, struggled to maintain pace against the Flyers’ relentless attack.

Travis Sanheim, Travis Konecny, and Garnet Hathaway each netted a goal for the Flyers, with Sanheim opening the scoring at 6:18 of the first period.

Colin Blackwell answered back quickly for Chicago just 1:17 later but couldn’t prevent Philadelphia from taking control in the second period.

It’s a game that I was worried about after the game ended in the outdoors

John Tortorella

Konecny extended his seven-game point streak with an unassisted goal at 3:15, followed by Hathaway’s rebound finish at 11:55. Ersson made crucial saves throughout the game, such as denying Taylor Raddysh early in the match and stopping multiple power-play opportunities for Chicago.

Bedard’s point streak was ended at three games after his return from a jaw injury. He had two goals and four assists since returning to action. The Blackhawks failed to convert on both of their power play opportunities, while the Flyers did not have any chances on the man advantage.

Chicago’s Nick Foligno went scoreless in his seventh game post-All-Star break. Connor Bedard had three shots but no points. Arvid Soderblom saved the ball thirty times but was unable to register a win with the Blackhawks since November 2023.

The Flyers seek to build upon their success and advance higher in the Metropolitan Division table. The division title is still within reach, but every game counts towards securing a playoff spot. The Flyers’ focus remains on winning and maintaining consistency as they finish the season strong.