OTTAWA, Ontario — Coming off what captain Claude Giroux called their best game of the season, a 3-0 win over the Rangers at MSG on Saturday, the Flyers continued their strong play of late by downing the Ottawa Senators, 4-2, on Tuesday night.
The win was the fourth in five games for the Flyers since they suffered back-to-back shutouts, including 4-0 to the Senators just 10 days ago.
With the victory, the Flyers have won three straight for the first time this season, while pulling themselves to the .500 mark and just two points shy of a playoff spot.
Chris vs. Chris hit
Flyers center Chris VandeVelde was doing a nice job using a cycle to keep the puck in the Ottawa end until he ran into Chris Neil, or the other way around. The Senators forward stepped into VandeVelde and laid him out with a solid, clean hit. To VandeVelde’s credit, he popped right back up and got back in the play.
Notable saves
It came early in the game and kept the score tied, 0-0. Steve Mason was sitting on the ice following a save when he maneuvered to his right and got his glove on a Kyle Turris shot that was headed in on the short side.
Notable goals
Notable not only because it was the first goal of the game, but it was also a thinking-man’s goal. After taking a pass from Claude Giroux at the top of the left faceoff circle, Shayne Gostisbehere thought about shooting but instead took advantage of the space given to him and moved toward the bottom of the circle before firing a shot over the shoulder of Craig Anderson and in.
Goalie report
Mason was solid in making 23 saves, but none of those were bigger than one off Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the tying minutes to maintain a one-goal lead for his team.
Shooting gallery
After getting 36 shots on goal and 81 total shot attempts 10 days ago against Anderson and the Senators, the Flyers fired another 33 shots on goal Tuesday.
NHL
Power play
The Flyers didn’t manage a power-play goal during their four opportunities, but Evgeny Medvedev did score at the exact second one of the Senators’ penalties expired. They had nine shots on their four opportunities.
Penalty kill
The Flyers went into Tuesday’s game having killed off their last 19 shorthanded situations. After two successful penalty kills Tuesday, that streak is now up to 21. It’s the team’s best streak since killing of 26 straight in Dec. 2013-Jan. 2014.
Happy Birthday
Flyers winger Michael Raffl celebrated his 27th birthday on Tuesday. He celebrated by being held off the score sheet for a season-high eighth straight game.
Milestone
Not so much as a milestone attained as one averted. The win by the Flyers avoided a four-game losing streak to the Senators, something that has happened only once before, back in the 2006-07 season. Matt Read is just two games shy of 300 for his NHL career.
Scratches
Forward Vinny Lacavalier was a healthy scratch while forward Sam Gagner (upper body) remained out.
Up next
The Flyers wrap up a three-game road trip Friday when the take on the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. They are home to face the Columbus Blue jackets Saturday.