RALEIGH – Until Sunday, Brandon Manning had never scored a shorthanded goal in the NHL. He’s only ever had one game-winner.
Ask him about goals and he’ll point to his overtime winner in the AHL with the Phantoms.
Yet his goal that snapped a 3-3 tie (and won the game) against Carolina was huge for the Flyers, who needed to feel good after getting beat up a bit over the past week, including a couple losses at home (see story).
“It’s nice to contribute,” said Manning, who has been the Flyers' best, two-way defensemen this season when many expected him to be a No. 6 or 7 player on the roster.
“Our PK has been battling the puck a little bit lately and I think we’ve done a good job, but [teams] manage to get one on us every night. So to contribute like that on the penalty kill, is big.”
Manning also had three hits and two blocked shots, giving him five blocks over the past two games.
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“Last year, he played some good hockey,” Flyers captain Claude Giroux said of Manning. “This year, he’s picked it up again. That was a big goal for us. He has a good attitude. He battles out there.”
The last time the Flyers won a game with a shorthanded goal was Feb. 28, 2015 when Michael Del Zotto’s scored 1:19 into the third period to break a 2-2 tie with the New York Rangers at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers won that game, 4-2.
D-scoring
Three Flyer defensemen scored in this game: Shayne Gostisbehere, Radko Gudas and Manning.
Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time that occurred was March 28, 2010 when Matt Carle, Lukas Krajicek and Kimmo Timonen all scored during a 5-1 home win against New Jersey.
Fun times in Philly
Leftover from Saturday’s loss to the Penguins was Sidney Crosby saying he thoroughly enjoys playing at the Wells Fargo Center, even if Flyer fans are always chanting derogatory things.
“When you win, yeah,” he said. “It’s emotional games though. As a player those are the games you want to be a part of.
“You know the intensity and the emotion is high between the two teams and it’s always much better when you win here. But they are into it and yeah I think that makes it fun for both teams.”
Loose pucks
Gudas also contributed seven hits with one blocked shot and led the Flyers with 22:45 ice time … Gostisbehere now had four goals and seven points in six career games against Carolina. His NHL career began here in this building last fall … Giroux’s two points extended his scoring streak to nine games. That matches his career-high. All 12 points this season (two goals) have come during the streak … Wayne Simmonds had two assists. It was his third, two-point game among the last six matches. Simmonds, whose 11 points is second to Giroux, has produced a point in eight of the Flyers’ 10 games this season. His scoring streak is now at four games.
