Flyers shoot down Jets playoff aspirations with 7-1 drubbing Featured

Written by  Published in Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg, Manitoba (NHN)-Sean Couturier scored twice and added an assist to pace the Philadelphia Flyers to a 7-1 drubbing of the Winnipeg Jets Saturday night.

The game's outcome provided some clarity for the two clubs playoff chances as Philadelphia extended their lead to three points in the Eastern Conference as New York Islanders, Detroit and Washington all sit at 91 points.

Winnipeg was all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.

Noah Cates had a goal and two assists.

Matvei Michkov had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia.

Rasmus Ristolainen had a pair of assists.

Porter Martone, Trevor Sanheim and Nick Seeler also scored for the Flyers.

Dan Vladar turned aside 28 shots for Philadelphia, who moved to 41-27-12.

Hayden Fleury scored the lone goal for the Jets.

Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie combined to make 16 saves for Winnipeg, who dropped to 35-31-12.

Porter Martone opened the scoring 1:17 into the contest when he converted a Travis Kocnecny feed after being left untouched as he drove the net and snapped the disc past Hellebuyck from close in.

The goal was his 3rd of the season.

The Flyers signed their 2025 first round pick to a three-year entry level deal following the elimination of his college team earlier this month.

Hayden Fleury got the Jets on even terms when he followed the puck to the net off the rush before pouncing on a rebound and fired a short wrister past Vladar.

The goal was his 2nd of the season.

Philadelphia took control of the contest with three straight goals to wrap up the first period.

Matvei Michkov scored at 8:24, taking a Noah Cates feed just inside the Jet blue line before moving in and beating Hellebuyck glove side with a wrister.

The goal was his 18th of the season.

Sean Couturier scored at 8:49, when he wired a wrist shot past Hellebuyck from inside the right faceoff circle to make it 3-1.

Travis Sanheim made it 4-1 11:41 into the second when his point shot snuck through Hellebuyck's pads.

The goal was his 11th of the season.

Noah Cates scored shorthanded at 19:28, converting a Christian Dvorak feed past Hellebuyck to make it 5-1 Philadelphia.

Jets Head Coach Scott Arniel had seen enough as Eric Comrie started the third period for the Jets.

Couturier scored unassisted at 6:23 of the third to make it 6-1 Flyers.

The goal was his 12th of the season.

Nick Seeler scored at 13:32, beating Comrie with a short side wrister to make it 7-1.

Winnipeg visits Las Vegas on Monday while Philadelphia hosts Carolina.

SHOTS-PHILADELPHIA 23 WINNIPEG 29

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Philip Paul-Martin

A well rounded journalist with experience in both print and broadcast mediums, Philip has written news stories with impact, broken national news while at the CBC, anchored radio news and hosted talk show radio. His coverage includes feature writing, game stories and more in-depth pieces during the off-season as well as writing about the National Hockey League and the Winnipeg Jets. He calls Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada home.