Carter Hart’s incredible stop saved the game and the Flyers’ winning streak.
Hart on Monday turned away 41 shots — including a stellar right-arm save late in the third period — while Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek scored as Philadelphia beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 for their eighth straight victory.
The Flyers pulled within five points of a playoff spot after having the NHL’s worst record on Jan. 9 — they were 14 points out of a post-season berth during the All-Star break just over a week ago.
Photo: AP
Philadelphia also became the first NHL expansion club to reach 2,000 victories.
Hart, Philadelphia’s 20-year-old rookie, won his seventh straight start with another solid game. His best stop came with just over 5 minutes left when he dived with his right arm to block Nikolay Goldobin from a sharp angle on a power play.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than that save,” Flyers interim coach Scott Gordon said. “It’s one of those plays that you’re watching it happen and feeling it’s going in the net, and the next thing you know, everyone on the bench was like: ‘Wow’”
Vancouver’s Elias Petterson took a slap-shot from the right circle that caromed off teammate Bo Horvat’s skate in front and to a wide-open Goldobin at the side of the net. Hart tracked the puck and lunged to his right with his whole body.
“I just kind of saw the play bounce out to that guy on the side, just dove across and hoped it would hit me, and it did,” Hart said.
His teammates were more demonstrative.
“He’s making some miracles out there,” Couturier said. “It’s nice to have him back there. You know he can steal one.”
Brock Boeser scored for Vancouver, who were playing the first of three games in four nights.
The game was delayed for several minutes midway through the third period after Vancouver’s Alexander Edler went down with a scary-looking injury. Edler’s skate got caught in Voracek’s stick, causing Edler to land face-first on the ice. With a bloodied face and dazed look, a conscious Edler was wheeled off on a stretcher while sitting upright.
Canucks coach Travis Green said after the game that Edler had gone for an X-ray.
Green was happy with Vancouver’s effort, and credited Hart and the Flyers.
“Sometimes you play a great game and lose,” he said.
Voracek scored on a breakaway 3 minutes, 20 seconds into the second period to put Philadelphia up 2-0.
After Canucks defenseman Christopher Tanev whiffed on a pass at the blue line, Philadelphia’s Phil Varone lifted a pass ahead to perfectly set up Voracek. The Flyers forward deked to his forehand and shot just past the outstretched right pad of Jacob Markstrom with a highlight-reel finish.
Vancouver got on the board 1:54 later after a rare mistake by Hart.
Hart came way out of his crease to deny Brandon Sutter, but the goalie’s clearing attempt went off the boards and right to Boeser, who fired into the vacated net for his 18th goal of the season and fourth in the past seven contests.
However, Hart rebounded from the gaffe and continued to lead the Flyers’ unlikely turnaround.
“You find it hard to believe that someone his age can come in and do what he’s doing,” Gordon said.
Couturier gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead with 1:23 left in the first period with a wrist-shot from the slot that went just under the glove of Markstrom.
The power-play tally was the seventh in the past nine opportunities for the Flyers, who scored four goals with the man advantage in Saturday’s 5-4 overtime win over Edmonton.
Also on Monday, it was:
‧ Kings 4, Rangers 3, OT
‧ Maple Leafs 6, Ducks 1
‧ Stars 5, Coyotes 4
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