Anthony Stolarz, Flyers Extend Win Streak to 9 With OT Win Vs. Red Wings

DETROIT — It doesn’t matter if they’re playing the second game of a back-to-back, if they’re starting a rookie goaltender or if the power play isn’t clicking, the Flyers find a way to win.

After Brayden Schenn scored at 2:44 of overtime to beat the Detroit Red Wings, 1-0, the Flyers’winning streak stands at nine games, their longest streak since 1995 (see Instant Replay).

“They had a guy streaking so it was kind of all-in or nothing and Simmer (Wayne Simmonds) made a great play on the pass, just dropped it to Provie (Ivan Provorov) and he made a great play giving it back to me. Nice to get the win again and keep ‘er going.”

Rookie Anthony Stolarz made 28 saves for his first career shutout in just his second career start.

“Really happy,” a beaming Stolarz said in the visitors’ dressing room. “Just keeping the win streak going, it was in the back of my mind. I kind of wanted to keep things rolling and just give the guys a chance to win tonight.”

Against Dallas at home Saturday afternoon, Schenn scored three power-play goals in a 4-2 victory.

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Against Detroit, the Flyers couldn’t connect on any of their four power-play opportunities.

“Just we find a way to win the games, no matter what it is,” Jakub Voracek said. “Down two goals, three goals, we still come back and win that game. Last game we won because of the power play, today we won because of very good goalie. We are very confident going into the third periods, no matter what the score is. I think that makes a big difference.”

Captain Claude Giroux, who had six shots on goal, shrugged when he was asked what the secret behind the streak was.

“I don’t know, I’d love to tell you,” Giroux said. “We’re playing some good hockey right now. We’re playing as a team, we’re sticking with it, we’re not changing our game plan, even though whatever happens on the ice. We got everybody going right now so we got to keep her going.”

Flyers coach Dave Hakstol credited the makeup of the team for keeping the streak going.

“When you look through our group, I think a night like tonight, we played a pretty good road game,” Hakstol said. “There was nothing spectacular about it. But we played start to finish and I think the confidence is there within the group that regardless of who it is, at some point in time, somebody’s going to make a play that pushes us to the right side. It took 63-64 minutes tonight but those guys made that play.”

The Flyers also improved to 6-1-1 in the second game of a back-to-back.

“We know what we got to do to be successful,” Voracek said. “First period back-to-back is always a little bit tough but then, when the second period came, we started playing better and we carried through the overtime.”

The Flyers dominated the overtime with six shots to the Wings’ one.

“I think just everyone on the same page, really,” Schenn said. “It’s really nothing more than that. It’s someone doing the job every other night so it’s not really the same guy each night. Obviously everyone’s playing good hockey but we’ve had guys step up along the way and that’s what you need when you’re on a streak like this.”

The streak has lifted the Flyers from 13th in the Eastern Conference to fourth. Their 39 points are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, but both of those teams have played fewer games. 

The Flyers are just two points behind the first-place Montreal Canadiens, with their next chance to extend the at Colorado on Wednesday. 

“I think obviously nine in a row, it’s not easy to do in this league,” Schenn said. “Everyone’s so competitive each night, so to go on a streak like this, it’s obviously special. We’re going to try and keep her going. It’s funny to say but you’re in the playoff race already just with our division so good.”

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