Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia Flyers showed grit, patience, and a touch of drama in their 2-1 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It was the sort of game that reminded everyone how much a tough-fought win can fuel the team and fans.
A Glacial Start, Then An Ignition
The Flyers, throughout much of the first period, were struggling to set up pacing and flow. Minnesota's tough checking and stingy defense made for tough clean entries, and the Flyers ended up with low-percentage outside shots. The Wild broke through in the second period when an offside sequence led to a goal reversal in their favor.
But the Flyers finally got in sync late. The game-changer occurred in the third period when Owen Tippett jammed the puck at the net, receiving a wishful bounce off Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt to tie the score at one. From that point, Philadelphia's confidence increased with each shift.
The Flyers embodied what Philly sports is known for being - fast, physical, and relentless. Their 32:19 hit margin was the story of a team that refused to let Minnesota dictate the pace.
Cates Delivers in Overtime
In the spare frame, goalie Dan Vladar recorded an enormous glove side save to keep business in prospect for the Flyers. Shortly thereafter, the puck made its way back on the ice and Noah Cates added the finishing touches to it - snapping in his first career overtime goal to win the game and drive the orange-and-black faithful into a thrill