Kolosov seizes the No. 2 role
If there was any doubt at all about John Tortorella’s Thursday morning decision to officially name Kolosov the de facto No. 2 over Ivan Fedotov, Kolosov very successfully answered the call. Through the first two periods, Kolosov didn’t have a lot of pucks on net to deal with, as the Red Wings only had 14 shots through 40 minutes. But, Kolosov remained sharp, and handled the four high danger chances that came his way in that timeframe. Then, the Red Wings put an onslaught on the Flyers and Kolosov in the third period – earning 94% of the expected goals share – but Kolosov stood on his head. Ending with 25 saves on 26 shots, Kolosov made numerous big stops to keep the Flyers ahead, including a game-saving save with three minutes remaining.
Checking in on Michkov
This wasn’t the most dominant of games for Matvei Michkov, as he was held off the board following a run of excellence in his past stretch of hockey. That’s not to say he was invisible, though. He nearly pulled off the Michigan in the second period, and it felt like it was the closest he’s gotten to actually scoring a goal on the move. Cam Talbot did a wonderful job in anticipating it, otherwise we’d be putting Michkov on the highlight reel as we speak.
Then, on the more negative end, there was a weird penalty on Michkov right off the draw in the third period, where he was given a minor for roughing Alex DeBrincat. Questionable call, but Michkov can’t really be doing that in a one goal hockey game. Of course, Laughton scoring on the ensuing penalty kill kinda makes this point seem worthless, but it’s the type of play that better teams in bigger games are going to feast on.
Fresh off of Tuesday’s dominant win over the Blue Jackets, the Flyers returned to the Wells Fargo Center for a Thursday night matchup with the Detroit Red Wings. On the back of four (!) goals from Scott Laughton and largely dominant territorial play through the first two periods, the Flyers downed Detroit and earned another two points in the Eastern Conference standings. And, after playing in what felt like a billion overtime games in November, the Flyers have now won two relatively easy hockey games in a row, a welcome trend for just about everyone.
The Basics
First period: No scoring
Second period: 13:22 – Scott Laughton
Third period: 1:31 – Scott Laughton (Konecny, Sanheim) (SHG), 16:07 – Ben Chiarot (Copp, Compher), 18:53 – Scott Laughton (Konecny, Cates) (EN), 19:47 – Scott Laughton (Hathaway) (EN)
SOG: 36 (PHI) – 26 (DET)
Some Takeaways
Scott Laughton!
Let’s start from the top for Scott Laughton’s night, with an unquestionably cool goal that he scored on Cam Talbot in the second. Laughton, skating in on a breakaway, opted for a slapshot and beat Talbot bar down. A rare and beautiful slapper on a breakaway was a fantastic way to get the Flyers on the board, and for Laughton to start his career night.
The first came at a crucial time too, as the Flyers were unable to solve Talbot all night to that point, even as the Flyers were racking up the higher-danger chances in the second period. In the second alone, the Flyers had 16 shots and 4 high-danger chances, and the former Flyers goaltender stood on his head as play really opened up in the middle period.
Scott Laughton x2!
On his second of the night, it was the most textbook Scott Laughton play that the Flyers could draw up. Off of a Matvei Michkov roughing penalty at the opening draw of the third, the Flyers were clinging to a 1-0 lead with the Wings on the man advantage. Then, as he’s done time and time again on the penalty kill the last couple of years, Laughton found himself on an odd-man rush with Travis Konecny – and made no mistake to beat Talbot and extend the lead. A true Scott Laughton staple.
Scott Laughton x3! And a fourth for good measure!
Before we move on from the Laughton of it all, Laughton’s last two of the night came on empty net goals, with the first one actually sealing the deal on a game that was 2-1 in the final minutes. Winning a battle along the wall with Noah Cates, Laughton then deposited the puck in the empty net for his second career hat trick, his first since a game against Washington in 2021. Pretty cool moment for one of the longest-tenured Flyers, and then Laughton added on with a second empty net goal for his fourth. The goals now bring Laughton to 13 goals in 20 career games versus Detroit, and to a total of seven on the season.
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