Fedotov’s Big Night Lifts Flyers to 2-1 Shootout Victory Vs. Jets

The Philadelphia Flyers get back over .500 as they beat the NHL’s best team, the Winnipeg Jets, on their home ice Saturday night. Ivan Fedotov led the Flyers to the 2-1 shootout win, the first win for a Flyers’ backup goalie since Aleksei Kolosov’s win against the Red Wings on December 12th.

The Flyers’ record improved to 27-26-8 with the win.

Jamie Drysdale scored the only regulation goal for the Flyers, with Matvei Michkov netting the lone shootout goal. Fedotov turned in a 29-save performance, including stunning all three Jet attempts in the shootout.

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Winnipeg Strikes First, But Flyers Hung Around

The always dangerous Winnipeg Jets top line, Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabe Villardi, combined for the Jets’ first score. Scheifele (34) found twine for Winnipeg.

Winnipeg got out to a 1-0 lead just before the halfway point in the first period. With Flyers’ backup netminder Ivan Fedotov in goal for Philadelphia, it seemed like it could have been just the start of the scoring for a buzzing Jets team.

However, they were unable to capitalize on the jolt of momentum, and the Flyers were able to hang around all period.

Despite being down 1-0, Philly doubled the Jets shot count in the period. The Jets were outshot 14-7 in the first period. It was only a matter of time until they answered the Jets’ score.

Drysdale Puts the Flyers on the Board

Jamie Drysdale has been coming into his own this season. He has really picked it up since play resumed out of the 4 Nations break.

Drysdale has been showing a bit more aggression on the offensive attack lately, and it paid off for him during the second period of Saturday’s game. The Flyers blueline netted his third goal of the season, with Noah Cates (14) and Nick Seeler (12) getting the assists.

A great pass from Cates set up Drysdale’s scoring opportunity. It gave him plenty of space to get a good shot on Hellebuyck.

Not much else came in the second period. Both goalies faced plenty of shots, but the game remained a 1-1 tie heading into the second break. The Flyers outshot the Jets 14-12 in the period, and  28-19 through two frames.

A Blank Third Frame

The Flyers hung around like an unwanted pest all game. They were gnats in the summertime–no matter what you tried, they wouldn’t go away.

The third period was not the best period for the Flyers, but the Jets did not take advantage of it.

Neither team generated many great chances. Two late penalties by the Flyers gave the Jets’ top-ranked power play a chance to take the lead, but the penalty killers did their job. Ivan Fedotov stood tall, and the game went into an extra frame.

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Second Straight OT Game

For the second time in as many games, the Philadelphia played an overtime game.

Philly could not generate much. The Jets were able to dominate control of the puck in the OT period. Neither team was able to do anything significant. The Jets got three shots on goal compared to Philadelphia’s one.

The Jets tried the slow game, but could not solve Fedotov.

The overtime period ended scoreless, and the game went to a shootout.

Matvei Michkov flashed his silky mitts and scored the shootout’s only goal, earning the Flyers the win and the extra point.

What’s Next for Philly

The Flyers will head home and get ready to host the Calgary Flames on March 4th.