Even when the Philadelphia Flyers fall short, they’re proving to be difficult to beat.
Though the Flyers lost 3-2 in overtime on the road against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, they still earned a point. The Flyers had won the previous four games.
In what was expected to be a rebuilding year, the Flyers are a surprising 15-10-3.
Philadelphia will now return home to battle the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
“I don’t have one problem with the team tonight,” Flyers head coach John Tortorella said. “In the third period, we sacrificed when they did have some time in our end. We just ate pucks.”
Sean Couturier sparked the Flyers once again with one goal and one assist. Heading into this season, it was unclear how much Couturier would be able to contribute in the aftermath of two back surgeries.
“It’s a huge point,” said Couturier, who has seven goals and 14 assists this season. “We battled hard all night. Down two goals, to find a way to get back in the game and get a big point, it’s definitely huge. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t get the extra one but a lot of positives.”
Another positive was Travis Sanheim’s fourth goal. Sanheim had been scuffling to score goals, but he managed to equalize the game at 2 at 6:49 of the third period.
“I was just following up the play as I try to do a lot,” Sanheim said. “Just a fortunate bounce that sits there. Happy to put that in.”
The Capitals will look for their third consecutive victory.
Washington won games against the New York Rangers (4-0) and Chicago Blackhawks (4-2) on consecutive days Saturday and Sunday.
Nic Dowd scored a pair of goals against Chicago while Dylan Strome and Anthony Mantha also connected for the Capitals.
“These are tough games, right?” Dowd said. “Travel (Saturday) night, long bus ride. I think we just have a veteran team, and guys understand how the game needs to be played. And we have great goaltenders.”
The win was keyed by a stellar all-around effort from T.J. Oshie. Strome gave the Capitals a 2-1 advantage after Oshie initiated the action with a huge check against Chicago’s Alex Vlasic.
“One hundred percent,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said of Oshie’s physical play. “Tons of energy on our bench from a play like that. It creates the goal, but just the physicality part of it. The added part of it is it’s a skilled guy who can score, who does things like that, finishes a check that gets everybody excited.
“On a back-to-back Sunday where you’re looking for spark, that’s one of them right there.”
Strome echoed those thoughts.
“That’s just what ‘Osh’ brings to the table,” Strome said. “He can do so many different things night in and night out. He’s unbelievable at being an unreal team guy, good on the power play and kind of chips in wherever he needs to, with anything, really. He scores goals, sets up plays, and obviously makes big hits.”
