Noah Cates scores in fifth consecutive game as Flyers top Ducks, 3-1

Jackie Spiegel, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Dec 28, 2024

Published in Hockey

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — There’s something about games out of NHL-mandated breaks that get the Flyers going.

Last season, they beat the Vancouver Canucks out of the holiday break and the Florida Panthers after the combined bye week and All-Star Weekend. This season, after spending a few days resting and resetting, they came out of the holiday break with a 3-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks.

Noah Cates got the Flyers on the board for the fifth straight game, when he made it 1-0 early in the second period. It was a slam-dunk goal for the center off the work of an increasingly confident Bobby Brink, who got the puck at the right point, faked like he was going to go to the net as he hit the face-off dot, and then carried the puck around the net. Brink fed an open Cates for the easy tally, with Lukáš Dostál out of position.

Morgan Frost gave the Flyers their second lead in the third period. He flew down the right wing, past Ducks defenseman Owen Zellweger, and sent a centering pass from below the goal line that went off the stick of Dostál and in. It marked his third goal in three games.

Joel Farabee made it 3-1 with an empty-netter. Serving a bench minor for too many men, he exited the box and bumped Zellweger who didn’t see him, losing the puck. Farabee scooped it up and scored his first goal since Dec. 8.

Gauthier vs. Drysdale

Usually on the road, one can easily spot the Flyers fans in their orange jerseys and sweatshirts. Saturday afternoon against the Ducks — who wear orange jerseys, pants, and helmets — it was harder to tell who was rooting for who.

Until you listened.

The Flyers fans in attendance were sure to boo every time Cutter Gauthier touched the puck in the first period. Selected by the Flyers fifth overall in 2022, Gauthier told the Flyers he didn’t want to play for the organization or in Philly and was traded to the Ducks for Jamie Drysdale on Jan. 8. This is the first meeting of Gauthier and the Flyers since the trade; the Ducks will be at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 11.

In the first period, Gauthier skated a tick above 4 minutes and spent two of the period’s 20 in the box for hooking Matvei Michkov. He had one shot on goal, a wrist shot from 43 feet out, and gave the puck away in the neutral zone leading to a shot on goal by Cates. Gauthier also drew a penalty by Garnet Hathaway for tripping but it was a weak call as the replay showed it was incidental contact. And in case you were wondering who threw the first hit on Gauthier, it was Brink 28 seconds into the game.

Drysdale had a strong first period as he skated 5:20 and had one shot on goal — on the power play — and a blocked shot. Although he skated with Egor Zamula in warmups and was listed with him on the official sheet, Drysdale was paired with Nick Seeler.

In the second period, Gauthier skated 4:18 and had one missed shot but he was on the ice for the tying goal by Troy Terry. Drysdale was again active, playing 6 minutes with one shot attempt and a hit on Terry.

Ersson stands tall

Flyers goalie Sam Ersson headed into the holiday break struggling to find his game. Since returning on Dec. 8 against Utah, a 4-2 loss, he entered Saturday with a 2-4-0, 4.28 goals-against average and a .810 save percentage — and was pulled after 40 minutes against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Friday after the team practiced at the Honda Center that he wanted to work on his overall game and being more consistent, but felt that he “lacked was a little bit of the big saves, like the key moments.”

Ersson finished with 32 saves on 33 shots and made several key saves throughout the game. His one mistake was a goal to Terry in the second period that went through the legs of Travis Sanheim as Cam York and Mason McTavish crossed in front.

Breakaways

Michkov did not play the final 20 minutes, 28 seconds. ... Forward Travis Konency skated in his 600th NHL game. ... Brink played his 100th NHL game. ... Forward Olle Lycksell, goalie Ivan Fedotov and defenseman Erik Johnson were healthy scratches.

Up next

After the game, the Flyers get on the bus and head 30 miles northwest to Crypto.com Arena for a Sunday night meeting with the Los Angeles Kings.