Flyers back Tortorella’s message, jump Sabres for needed win

Flyers back Tortorella’s message, jump Sabres for needed win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

John Tortorella’s message to the Flyers was clear – don’t overthink the loss to the Sabres. Despite outshooting Buffalo 40-15, the Flyers suffered a defeat by three goals. “What we need to do is just stay with it,” he said Wednesday.

However, Tortorella’s words proved to be prophetic as the Flyers secured a 5-1 victory over the Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York on Friday. Scott Laughton, Louie Belpedio, Travis Konecny, Garnet Hathaway, and Bobby Brink all contributed goals for the Flyers, who badly needed a positive result after a series of losses.

The Flyers’ four-goal victory matched their largest margin of the season. Notably, they achieved this without the presence of injured players Carter Hart and Sean Couturier.

In the game, eight different Flyers players recorded points, with Brink and Joel Farabee leading the way. On the defensive end, the Flyers successfully neutralized Buffalo’s star forward, who had been a significant contributor in their previous encounter.

Remarkably, the Flyers demonstrated an impressive offensive performance in the first period, scoring three goals on just nine shots. Konecny’s breakaway goal added to his impressive tally of nine goals, tied for the most in the NHL. Goalie Samuel Ersson also had a standout performance, stopping 21 of Buffalo’s 22 shots.

This victory comes as a relief for Tortorella, who had acknowledged Ersson’s recent struggles. Through self-evaluation and determination, Ersson displayed a much-improved performance in net. In previous encounters, Ersson had shut out the Sabres.

Furthermore, Konecny’s consistent goal-scoring contributions have been a highlight for the Flyers. Despite missing several games last season due to injuries, his goal-scoring record remains impressive.

Another notable player was defenseman Belpedio, who made his NHL debut at 27 years old and scored his first career NHL goal in Friday’s game. Belpedio’s perseverance and strong work ethic have been central to his success.

As the Flyers prepare for their next match against the Kings on Saturday, they can reflect on this much-needed win as a source of motivation.

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