TAMPA, Fla. — In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, the Philadelphia Flyers emerged victorious against the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning 2-1 in a shootout after Owen Tippett scored the equalizer late in regulation and clinched the win in the shootout.
Alongside Tippett, Travis Konecny also contributed to the Flyers’ shootout success, helping the team secure just their fifth win in 14 games. Ivan Fedotov showcased his skills in goal, making 20 saves through overtime and denying attempts from both Gage Goncalves and Victor Hedman during the shootout, marking his first NHL victory.
The Lightning saw Nikita Kucherov net his 11th goal of the season, but the loss added to their current streak of four straight defeats. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who made 30 saves, was left short of achieving his 300th career win, which would have made him the 40th goaltender in NHL history to reach that milestone.
Tippett’s crucial goal came with just 4:16 left on the clock in the third period, as he hit the target from the left circle—a shot that seemed to take Vasilevskiy by surprise.
In terms of game highlights, Flyers’ coach John Tortorella opted to scratch rookie Matvei Michkov, who had previously participated in the opening 13 games of the season. Tortorella explained the decision as part of the ongoing development process for the 19-year-old, who currently ranks second on the team with 10 points, including four goals and six assists, although he has managed just one assist in his last five outings.
As for the Lightning, they returned home following a challenging road trip that saw them win only one of four games. Despite Vasilevskiy’s impressive performance until the Flyers broke through, the team continues to face difficulties.
One key statistic from the game was that the Flyers, who have had trouble finding the back of the net this season, outshot the Lightning with a total of 31 to 24.
Looking ahead, the Flyers are set to visit Florida on Saturday, while the Lightning will prepare to host the Winnipeg Jets next Thursday.