Ivan Fedotov Earns First NHL Win vs. Lightning with Help from Owen Tippett, Flyers

After a 2-1 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Philadelphia Flyers are no longer the team occupying last place in the NHL, and they have Ivan Fedotov and Owen Tippett to thank for that.

Fedotov, 27, saw his first game action in over two weeks, and only played for the Flyers against the Lightning because Aleksei Kolosov was injured at morning skate on Thursday morning. Thus, it was up to Fedotov and emergency backup goalie Kyle Konin, signed to an amateur tryout offer, to take on the Lightning.

It worked out just fine.

Fedotov stopped 23 of 24 shots, giving him a .958 save percentage and his first career win at the NHL level.

His performance wasn’t without warts, though, as Nikita Kucherov’s dubious wraparound goal gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead late in the first period.

Fedotov traveled a long way out of his crease to challenge Kucherov, who expertly carried the puck around the back of the net and deposited into an empty net. It was a fairly grievous error to make with less than a minute left in the period, but Fedotov’s teammates didn’t do him any favors, either.

Got the first dub and the hardware to prove it. 🏅 pic.twitter.com/p4assdFGcZ

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 8, 2024

Kucherov had skated the puck into the zone in a 1-on-2 situation, with Flyers captain Sean Couturier and Rasmus Ristolainen doubled back to defend him. The problem is that Couturier committed to chasing Kucherov alongside Ristolainen, leaving nobody at the other post to help stop the wraparound.

Couturier did manage to get his stick to the puck, but Kucherov handily overpowered him for the goal.

Aside from that, Fedotov was flawless and made a number of key saves, including a breakaway denial of former Flyer Cam Atkinson.

Ivan Fedotov, Owen Tippett propel Flyers to win over Lightning

After scoring a beautiful lifted shot against Carolina two nights ago, Owen Tippett found his way onto the stat sheet for the Flyers for the second game in a row.

With time winding down and the Flyers in desperate need of a goal down by one with under five minutes remaining, Tippett pulled off one of his signature magic tricks.

You know, the near-side backhand shot that almost never works but everybody loves when it goes in?

STAY HOT, TIPP! 🔥#PHIvsTBL | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/NuDiNUd5Mx

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 8, 2024

The 25-year-old has a penchant for attempting it, but Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy must not have seen a lot of tape of Tippett recently. Vasilevskiy left a ton of room between his head and the post, and Tippett put the puck where it needed to be. Tie game.

Overtime failed to bring much action of note, though Fedotov was tested by Brandon Hagel through a moving screen merely eight seconds into the extra frame. The hulking Russian netminder did well to maintain his positioning, stay composed, and swat down Hagel’s shot to calm things down.

The Flyers had to earn their two points through the skills competition, where Tippett and Travis Konecny each scored past Vasilevskiy in the shootout to secure the 2-1 win.

Both Flyers wingers managed to beat Vasilevskiy on the glove side, though Tippett’s was the shootout-winner. And it was the kind of shot you want to see a lot more from No. 74.

Darting in from the left side, Tippett quickly waded into the low slot before sniping a shot under Vasilevskiy’s glove and over the pad. An NHL sniper’s dream goal.

Tippett is suddenly up to three goals on the season and is starting to tease the potential that enticed Danny Briere and the Flyers to offer and sign him to an eight-year contract extension in January.

🔥 Tipp called game. 🔥#PHIvsTBL | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/6rgeBuibxn

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 8, 2024

“He’s got a track record for being quick. I think, whatever move you’re going to make, it’s got to be quick. It’s got to be a perfect shot,” Tippett said of his shootout-winning goal. “Obviously coming in with speed there helped.

“I think lately we’ve just been trying to find our identity. Obviously, we’ve been trying to play a more north-south game and get pucks in behind them, simply things right now and try to get our game back. Tonight was a big step and we just got to keep it rolling.”

Although some tough losses have been sprinkled in, the Flyers have four wins in their last seven games. They picked up their first one without star rookie Matvei Michkov on Thursday.

“It’s tough. Obviously, with the schedule we’ve got, too, it’s every other day. (When) things don’t go your way, you got to kind of wipe the slate and get right back to it. It’s fun, and we’re trying to get it going here,” Tippett said.