Konecny’s 2 goals help the Flyers hand the Rangers their fifth straight loss

The Flyers were the better team in the first period, scoring two goals and outscoring the Rangers 15-4. New York didn’t get a shot on goal in the first 11:09 minutes of the game.

“I think we were on guard from the start and dictated the game,” Philadelphia forward Noah Cates said. “And that’s how we always want to play.”

Brink increased the score to 1-0 after 3:14. Flyers forward Tyson Foerster blocked a shot by Rangers defenseman Adam Fox at the Philadelphia blue line, pushed the puck past him, passed it to the puck at the Rangers’ end and centered it to a charging Brink.

Brink matched his NHL best with four shots on goal in 13:48 minutes of ice time. He also played well away from the puck, including in a sequence midway through the third period in which he outran forward Artemi Panarin, New York’s leading scorer, and forced him out of the Philadelphia zone and back into the Rangers’ zone.

“That was one of Bobby Brink’s better games without the puck. There were a lot of turnovers with the puck,” Tortorella said. “He checks better. I think he’s more aware of his game away from the puck. Puck follows him offensively. I’m not worried about his offense. Will he allow me to continue playing against him in certain situations? … He has that.” He wanted to give me that confidence through his play away from the puck without compromising his offensive game.

The goal was Brink’s first in seven games, but he said he felt more confident as the season progressed.

“I just try to work hard and limit mistakes,” he said. “I think once you start making mistakes you lose a little bit of confidence. So it went well for me today and overall it was a good game (with Cates and Foerster).”

Konecny ​​scored at 4:24 to make it 2-0. The forward took a short pass from Sean Couturier at center ice, skated past Trouba and backhanded the puck under Shesterkin.