After their last few games, the Flyers haven’t produced many goals even though they have outshot their opponents in back to back games and have had lots of chances. Going into the game against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Flyers looked to switch things up, and called up Joel Farabee and Mikhail Vorobyev from Lehigh Valley, having sent Carsen Twarynski and Connor Bunnaman down a few days prior.
Farabee, who had 4 points in 4 games with the Phantoms (3 goals 1 assist) would play his first game in the NHL. Vorobyev gets his second stint with the Flyers after making the team out of camp last season. He got his first NHL goal in the second game of the year against Colorado, but was eventually sent back to Lehigh Valley.
The Flyers went into this game with a different approach to the offense as Claude Giroux was moved back to Center with Sean Couturier on the 2nd line and Kevin Hayes on the 3rd. Joel Farabee played on the 3rd line, and the 1st PP unit taking Hayes’ spot in the slot. Keeping Giroux on the right and Voracek on the left. Shayne Gostisbehere was put back on the first unit after Ivan Provorov took his spot against Dallas Stars last Sat. night. Mikhail Vorobyev was on the 4th line with Michael Raffl and Chris Stewart.
Joel Farabee took a lap by himself in warmups, which he probably expected as all Rookies in the NHL do as tradition, then the game was under way. Travis Konecny got the Flyers on the board on the PP to make it 1-0 on a deflected pass from Oskar Lindblom, beating Oscar Dansk high on the glove side. The first period would end with the Flyers up 1-0, but the Flyers were just getting started. With about 14 minutes left in the 2nd, Kevin Hayes put the Flyers up 2-0 on the wrap around off the pass behind the net from Scott Laughton. The Flyers would add another goal 44 seconds later as Provorov took the shot from the point and Raffl tipped it in beating Dansk on the shortside to make it 3-0. After the game the goal was credited to Provorov after Raffl said postgame that he only wanted credit for one, so Provorov got his 2nd of the season, having 5 points in 7 games.
Brian Elliot looked sharp in the 2nd as he made a few key saves for the Flyers. Matt Niskanen would then add to their lead and make it 4-0 on a great pass from Couturier on the PP. Lindblom would get his 3rd of the year to make it 5-0 on a 2 on 1 with Raffl 55 seconds later, a great passing play. The Flyers had 4 goals on 10 shots in an offensive outburst in the 2nd period and great goaltending to go along with it.
Jonathan Marchessault would finally get one for Vegas to make it 5-1 on the Tic-Tac-Toe passing play on the long 5 on 3 PP, getting one by Brian Elliot. Rielly Smith would then make it 5-2 on a breakaway, beating Elliot five-hole on 4 on 4 penalties. Raffl would get his second of the game to make it 6-2 on a breakaway, assuring the victory for the Flyers. Joel Farabee played very well in his debut playing more than 14 minutes TOI while registering 3 shots on goal.
Mikhail Vorobyev had an assist on Raffl’s first goal, and played well with Raffl and Stewart. Brian Elliot looked very solid as well stopping 33 of 35 shots, having a .943 SV%. Hopefully the Flyers can continue this offensive push in their next two games in Chicago on 10/24 and at home against Columbus on 10/26.
Philadelphia Sports Chronicle 