Flyers defeat Devils for sixth win in seven games

PHILADELPHIA -- Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist during a three-goal first period, and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1 at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday for their sixth win in seven games.
Valtteri Filppula and Ivan Provorov scored for Philadelphia (22-16-8), and Michal Neuvirth made 28 saves for his 100th NHL win. The Flyers are 6-1-0 since a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 2 and have won five straight games at home.

WATCH: [All Devils vs. Flyers highlights]
"We played a really strong game," Konecny said. "We came out really hot, and that's what we need to keep doing."
It was Konecny's third multipoint game of the season. He has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 11 games since being shifted to the top line with center Sean Couturier and left wing Claude Giroux on Dec. 23. He had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his first 35 games.

"I haven't noticed [Konecny] being more confident, but I think he's more visible when he gets the puck, when he's hitting those holes and getting into space," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. "Having the opportunity to play with two good veterans (Couturier and Giroux) has been good for [Konecny]."
Jesper Bratt scored for New Jersey (24-13-8), and Ken Appleby made 24 saves in his NHL debut after he replaced Keith Kinkaid at 12:15 of the first period. Kinkaid sustained a lower-body injury trying to make a save on Provorov's goal, which gave the Flyers a 3-0 lead.
"I felt good in there," said Appleby, who was recalled from Binghamton of the American Hockey League under emergency conditions Friday. "Little nervous at the start. Once I started getting some shots it felt good."

Kinkaid, who made four saves on seven shots, was starting his third straight game in place of Cory Schneider, who is out because of illness.
Devils forward Brian Gibbons did not return after sustaining a hand injury when he blocked a shot by Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere 41 seconds into the second period.
Coach John Hynes did not have updates on either Kinkaid or Gibbons after the game.
"I thought Ken came in and did a good job," Hynes said. "We had lots of opportunities to score, couldn't find a way to put it in the net. … I thought we were in the game all the way through, just couldn't find a way to put the second or third one in."
Philadelphia scored three goals in the first 12:15.

Gostisbehere got around Devils forward Nico Hischier in the neutral zone, carried the puck into the New Jersey zone and sent it across to Konecny, who scored from the right side at 3:29 for a 1-0 lead. Filppula put the Flyers ahead 2-0 at 8:30 when he scored from in front off a setup by Michael Raffl.
Provorov made it 3-0 at 12:15. Kinkaid stopped Konecny's shot but couldn't control the rebound. Provorov got inside position on Bratt and flipped the puck over Kinkaid's right pad. Kinkaid remained down on the ice after stretching to stop Provorov but was able to skate off on his own.
Bratt scored a power-play goal at 8:12 of the second period. Taylor Hall had the secondary assist on the goal to extend his point streak to seven games. That ties the longest of his NHL career; he had a point in seven straight games from Jan. 6-Feb. 4, 2016, while playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

Goal of the game

Konecny's goal at 3:29 of the first period.

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Save of the game

Neuvirth's save on Damon Severson with 2:10 left in the third period.

Highlight of the game

Appleby made saves on Wayne Simmonds, Nolan Patrick and Jordan Weal in a two-second span at 13:37 of the first period.

They said it

"You stake yourself to a 3-0 deficit, it's hard to come back. Teams are going to win a lot of those games. It's just about our start and keeping ourselves in it on the road." -- Devils forward Taylor Hall
"Our team has been confident playing with leads. We went through the stretch in November where we couldn't get it right. But beyond that I felt like our group is continuing to grow in that area. … I thought our third period, especially as we went town the stretch, was sound, was solid, and everyone was doing their part." -- Flyers coach Dave Hakstol

Need to know

The Devils had won their previous two games; their last loss was 5-3 against the Flyers at Prudential Center on Jan. 13. ... The Devils killed four Flyers power plays and are 11-for-11 on the penalty kill in their past three games. … Neuvirth is 100-87-23 in the NHL. ... Giroux's assist on Provorov's goal was his 41st of the season; he's second in the NHL to teammate Jakub Voracek, who has 45.

What's next

Devils: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSG, FS-D, NHL.TV)
Flyers: At the Washington Capitals on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET; NBC, TVA Sports, NHL.TV)