Bunting boosts Hurricanes to win against Flyers

PHILADELPHIA -- Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.

Brendan Lemieux, Seth Jarvis and Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored, and Sebastian Aho had two assists for Carolina (13-8-0). Pyotr Kochetkov made 28 saves.

"I think we just stuck to our game and stuck to the process of creating chances when we had it and put a little stress on them," Bunting said. "I thought it was an all-around good game. It was a close one to the end and then we were able to squeak one there with [Jarvis]."

Travis Konecny scored for Philadelphia (11-10-1), which had won six of its previous eight games. Carter Hart made 32 saves.

"We were just flat right through the lineup," Flyers coach John Tortorella said. "Back end did some good work, but just didn't have many forwards going at all."

Bunting made it 1-0 at 5:39 of the first period with a goal from the slot after a centering pass from Aho.

Bunting also had an assist on Jarvis' goal that put the Hurricanes ahead 3-1 at 16:34 of the third period.

The forward was promoted to the top line with Jarvis and Aho because Andrei Svechnikov was out with an illness.

"I thought we played well together," Bunting said. "They're two good players, and I thought we connected well and obviously we were able to produce a couple times. That's my game, I can play anywhere in the lineup, and I'm very confident wherever I am too. So anytime I get the opportunity, I'm going to roll with it."

Svechnikov's absence also meant Lemieux was in the lineup after being scratched the previous eight games. His goal gave Carolina a 2-1 lead at 13:25 of the second period.

"I'm just happy to be here, around this group," Lemieux said. "It's a really good, deep group that I want to help contribute to later in the season and in the playoffs. So, if it means sitting out games and waiting for my chance, then so be it. I'm going to try to push the group and give everybody a laugh off the ice and enjoy my time contributing and being a depth guy."

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said it speaks to the professionalism of Bunting and Lemieux that they were able to adapt easily to changing roles.

"'Pepe' came in for 'Svech' and I thought he was really good," Brind'Amour said of Lemieux. "That line (with Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen) was really good. He got a goal, got rewarded for it, but they had good zone time and created a lot of havoc down there. They certainly did their job. Then we moved 'Bunts' up and obviously, he cashed in with a goal. I thought he was really good too, noticeable. When you're playing with the top guys, that's kind of what you expect and he did a great job."

Konecny tied it 1-1 at 7:14 of the second period when he scored on a breakaway past the glove of Kochetkov.

Lemieux's goal to put Carolina ahead came after Philadelphia forward Scott Laughton's clearing attempt went off Lemieux's leg and landed in the crease.

"I try to clear it off the wall, hits off a shin pad, goes right on his stick," Laughton said. "Not sure how many times that's going to happen again."

Kotkaniemi scored an empty-net goal at 17:16 for the 4-1 final.

"Obviously, the win was great," Brind'Amour said. "I thought we didn't really have too many lulls in there. We had a couple shifts that weren't really good but for the most part, we stuck to the game plan, what we needed to do, and we pulled it out."

NOTES: The Hurricanes have won six straight games in Philadelphia. ... The Flyers played without forward Noah Cates, who is expected to be out 6-8 weeks because of a broken foot sustained blocking a shot during a 1-0 shootout win against the New York Islanders on Saturday. ... Lemieux's goal was his first since Oct. 14. He played 18 games for the Flyers last season and signed a one-year contract with the Hurricanes on July 11. ... Flyers forward Sean Couturier played his 741st game, tying Rick MacLeish and Bob Kelly for seventh in franchise history. ... Forward Teuvo Teravainen played his 500th game with Carolina. ... It was Hockey Fights Cancer night in Philadelphia. Owen Micciche, a 9-year-old battling the disease, took part in a special rookie lap during warmups with Flyers forward Owen Tippett and was on the bench next to Tortorella during the first period.