PHILADELPHIA FLYERS vs FLORIDA PANTHERS: Game Summary - Observations - Insights - Highlights & More

Matthew Tkachuk entered the game as one of the leagues most prolific shooters, firing 32 shots on net in his first 7 games. Tkachuk is one of the leagues premier agitators, but he can also produce. Tkachuk had 4 goals and 5 assists entering the contest, leading the Panthers in points.

Travis Konecny began the season with high expectations and he hasn't disappointed. Through the Flyers first 7 games, Konecny is averaging over a point per game, with 4 goals, 4 assists, for 8 points; 3 of those on the power play.

The night belonged to Konecny and the Flyers. Konecny added helpers on the first two goals of the game; one by Tony DeAngelo and the other, Scott Laughton. Both assists were deceptive backhand touches and left Sergei Bobrovsky at the mercy of the shooters.

Tkachuk didn't seem to have the same edge to his game, as he did in the Panthers victory the week prior. That honour went to Patric Hornqvist, who was in the middle of every post whistle scrum. Tkachuk did mange one assist and tallied 7 shots on Hart, in the loss.

1. Buying In:

The Flyers bent, but they did not break in the third period. The Flyers dug deep and sacrificed, blocking 32 shots in front of Carter Hart.

Ivan Provorov had a game high 9 blocks, including a key sequence in the second period, where it looked like Provorov may have sustained an injury blocking a heavy point shot. Provorov refused to stay down, instead rejoining the play and defending against the Panthers quick transition back into the zone.

Justin Braun also dangerously blocked a shot up high, one that struck him in the ear. Braun did not miss a shift.

Every player on the Flyers benched appears engaged and willing to occupy shooting lanes to block shots, something that wasn't always prevalent in the past. John Tortorella is imposing a pack mentality, that everyone has to contribute, battle, and buy in to the defensive zone play.

2. Early Vezina Rumblings:

The key to the Flyers win was once again Carter Hart, who boasts some of the top numbers in the NHL. Hart trails only the Dallas Stars Jake Oettinger, for top save percentage and goals against average.

''(Hart) has been our backbone all year. We have five wins and he's the main reason for all of them. He's playing good. We know he always has our back and we try our hardest to have his.'' said Kevin Hayes, of his netminder Carter Hart.

Carter Hart set his career best with his 48 save performance and was appropriately chosen to wear the ball jersey once again.

3. Balanced Scoring A Common Theme:

Four goals on the night; four different goal scorers.

In the first period DeAngelo jumped into the rush on the weak side and was rewarded with a high skill pass from Konecny. DeAngelo made no mistake, snapping home a one-timer just inside the post.

Later in the first period and quickly responding to the Panthers going up 2-1, Scott Laughton slipped home a power play goal into a wide open cage, on a broken play.

Kevin Hayes had his shot tipped up into Radko Gudas' chest and TK found the loose puck as it dropped to his feet. Konecny chipped the puck to Laughton, who slid it in.

The Flyers came out flying in the second period and scored their third goal from an unlikely combination.

Nicolas Deslauriers won the draw back to Nick Seeler, who found a clean shooting lane. Seeler fired a wrist shot towards the net and Zack MacEwen got his stick into the lane and deftly tipped the puck past Bobrovsky.

Joel Farabee added the insurance marker on a great recovery pass from Hayes.

Hayes was sprung on a breakaway, complements of a half wall feed from Owen Tippett, but Hayes lost the handle on the deke. Hayes quickly recovered the puck and fed it to the front of the net, where Farabee was poised for the tap in.

4. A Simply Stunning Stat:

Scott Laughton is currently in his tenth NHL season and entering the game against the Panthers, he had never scored a power play goal.

Laughton has 67 goals in the show, with 5 short handed tallies, but had never scored on the power play. That streak ended against the Panthers, as Laughton set up shop in JVR's office and did Van Riemsdyk proud, shovelling one in from the paint.

Laughton has long been an underrated player in the Flyers organization and has widely been regarded as a defensive forward.

We are seeing this year, with an expanded roll, that Laughton posses a cagey set of hands, can drive offensive with his creativity, and he can finish plays. Laughton is another player who can flourish with an aggressive style of hockey in place.

Don't be surprised if Laughton doesn't have a career year in points.

With the win the Philadelphia Flyers moved in to first place in the Metro Division and are tied with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers for forth overall in the NHL. Only the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights have more points.