Flyers lose 6th in 7 games

PHILADELPHIA — The repeatedly booed Flyers suffered their sixth loss in seven games on Friday, losing 5-2 to the Montreal Canadiens.

Carter Hart wasn’t backed by a lot of support, but he could only make 26 saves and soon feel pressure on playing time from Samuel Elson.

Eliminated bottom of the Atlantic Division, but the Habs dominated for 60 minutes as the Flyers appeared to falter in their first home game after a four-game western swing.

“My biggest concern was the lack of quickness into the pack and 50-50’s,” said John Tortorella.

Chris Tierney scored for a two-goal Montreal lead after David Savard’s goal at 19:55 in the first. Nick Suzuki’s power play goal made it 3-0.

The Flyers scored nine seconds into the third period when Owen Tippett stunned Jake Allen with a shot from behind the right field circle. Ivan Provorov added a goal with 1:28 left. By then, goals in the third period from Jesse Ilonen and Josh Anderson had inflated Montreal’s lead to his 5–1.

With Travis Connekny out with an arm injury, Tortorella wants Tippett to take on some of the responsibility.

“I’ve never been shy about what I think of this guy,” said Tortorella. It will be useful for 5 games as well. So it’s encouraging.”

The Flyers visit the Devils on Saturday night at 7pm.

“Let’s go to Jersey and get a fresh start,” Scott Lawton said.

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Koneckny has missed two games in a row with what is officially called an “upper body” injury that surfaced in Calgary on Monday.

“I don’t have a lot of information,” said Tortorella. “He is still being evaluated.”

Konekny leads the Flyers with 54 points and a career-high 27 goals. The immediate ramifications were that Kiefer Bellows was scratched and replaced by Patrick Brown.

When asked if the situation in Connekny could drag on, Tortorella didn’t immediately deny it.

“I don’t know,” he said. “We will release the information as soon as possible.”

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Hart started on Friday, but Elson continues to complicate things for Tortorella’s goalkeeper.

The 23-year-old became the 12th goaltender in NHL history to win his first six decisions in a 4–3 victory over Calgary. heart.

Early in training camp, nothing surprised Tortorella, who was quick to tout the value of a 2018 fifth-round draft pick.

“I didn’t even talk to him at camp,” said Tortorella. “I didn’t even know who he was. He was the best goalkeeper in camp just by playing. The more you look at the way he handles certain positions, the more arrogant he is, the goalkeeper.

Tortorella, who has regularly identified him as the “backbone” of the Flyers, maintains a similar reputation for Hart.

“I think Carter did a great job on that part as well,” he said. “Those two guys really encouraged me.”

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Defenseman Kam Yorke is playing on the right side and has been given more power playing time.

“I’ve played on the left side all my life,” he said. “I know it really well.

His drive aside, York looked uncomfortable on Friday and was on the ice for two goals in the first period that left Hart vulnerable.

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Tanner Rachinski, who has been on the injured reserve since December with a lower body problem, was on the ice for Friday morning’s skating. Tortorella was unable to provide a timeline for their return to the lineup.