The Philadelphia Flyers kicked off their west Canadian road trip tonight against the undefeated Edmonton Oilers, winning 5-3 in a game that took years off the fanbase’s lives.

The Oilers entered this game with their powerplay converting 47% of the time which is simply insane even within a 5 game sample size. It’s clear this game was always going to be a back and forth shootout and the Flyers were going to need Carter Hart to respond. Last time Hart was here, he was shelled for 6 goals.

The starting lineup for the Flyers:

Flyers line rushes vs. Oilers

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
Farabee-Brassard-Atkinson
Lindblom-Laughton-van Riemsdyk
Aube-Kubel-Thompson-MacEwen

Provorov-Braun
Sanheim-Ristolainen
Yandle-Seeler

Hart

— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) October 28, 2021

1st Period

Rasmus Ristolainen took Zach Hyman hard into the boards and it garnered a weak high-sticking penalty to put the Oilers on the powerplay just a minute in. The Flyers killed it off and got their legs under them, then Claude Giroux tucked a sneaky wraparound past Koskinen to make it a 1-0 game.

That’s. Our. Captain.

1-0 #Flyers pic.twitter.com/l66AwTXnQQ

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 28, 2021

It’s kind of annoying how otherworldly Connor McDavid is. I almost feel like I’m being cheated as a Flyers fan seeing this lightning bolt zipping up and down the ice creating a ton of dangerous chances.

Koskinen made a clumsy play behind the net and the Flyers fourth line were able to get another sneaky one. This time being Nate Thompson with the marker.

👀 pic.twitter.com/8GW8jumvtZ

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 28, 2021

It was only a matter of time before the Oilers got on the board and they cut the deficit to one on a gorgeous goal from Tyson Barrie. Edmonton then went back on the powerplay and tied the game with 18 seconds left.

This goal didn’t turn out to be the backbreaker I was expecting it to be as Cam Atkinson was able to collect a puck out of his skates and snap it by Koskinen with 0.6 seconds left. Buzzer beater to make the game 3-2.

Buzzer. Beater.

Are you kidding me, Cam Atkinson? pic.twitter.com/tQc6EtL28G

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 28, 2021

2nd Period

Edmonton came out buzzing and Connor McDavid made a play that ended up finding the stick of Zach Hyman to tie the game at 3. The Flyers were on their heels for the majority of this period and the chances came few and far between. At least the referees chilled out with the penalties and didn’t handicap the Flyers into a bad situation, but the Oilers definitely dominated.

Hart did what he needed to do allow the Flyers to survive this period and had some notably huge stops against McDavid and Puljujarvi. Ristolainen took a shot directly to the face at the end of period but stayed on the ice despite leaking blood. What a Viking.

Incredible job by Ristolainen to finish that shift pic.twitter.com/1jb1QVoaWd

— Nasty Knuckles (@NastyKnuckles) October 28, 2021

3rd Period

Cam Atkinson has fit this team like a glove and his shoot first mentality is so refreshing to see on a team that historically loves to pass it one too many times. Skating down the right wing, Atkinson wound back and fired one through the five-hole of Koskinen for the 4-3 lead five minutes into the period.

6 goals in 5 games. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/TiPqbA0H3j

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 28, 2021

The Flyers took the momentum and just barely missed on a tip chance from Giroux and a breakaway for Laughton; they outshot the Oilers 11-3 at one point in the period. Travis Konecny was called for interference in a play where McDavid was actually trying to hit him. Yet when Sanheim got tripped in the corner by 3 Oilers, there was no call. You have to love the NHL and its pick and choose refereeing.

After an odd empty net debacle with Konecny almost botching it twice, Couturier was able to put the insurance goal away and the Flyers won 5-3. Carter Hart got his revenge on Edmonton and put on a clutch third period performance.

Good goal baby! Couturier with the ENG and it’s 5-3 #Flyers

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 28, 2021

Quick Hits

• 26 blocked shots from the Flyers tonight, and it was necessary against this high octane Oilers offense.
• 22 consecutive saves from Hart to end that game and he gets his revenge on Edmonton.
• Claude Giroux with another goal tonight and he now has 4 in 5 games.
• Cam Atkinson put up 2 tonight giving him the highest goal total on the team with 6. Yeah, we won that trade.
• Rasmus Ristolainen finishing his shift while gushing blood from his face is exactly the kind of thing Philadelphia builds a statue for.
• Huge 2pts tonight on the first half of a back-to-back, and with Ellis hopefully returning tomorrow things are looking bright.
• The referee’s were ridiculous, they call everything in the first period then went into the normal make-up call antics.
• This was the Oilers first loss of the season, and I’m so glad it came from the Flyers.
• 3-1-1.

Next Up: Thursday @ Vancouver (10PM/NBCSP)

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Flyers