Petersen helps Flyers defeat Kraken for 3rd straight win

PHILADELPHIA -- Cal Petersen made 17 saves in his first start since Nov. 11, and the Philadelphia Flyers won their third straight game, 3-2 against the Seattle Kraken at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.

"The guys made it easy for me, very simple," Petersen said. "Not a lot of odd-man rushes, if any. Just had to make the saves I needed to make, and the guys did a great job. So, a lot of credit goes to them.”

Prior to Saturday, Petersen played one game since his start in November, making 19 saves on 21 shots in relief of Samuel Ersson in the Flyers' 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Jan. 27.

Since winning 20 games with the Los Angeles Kings in 2021-22, Petersen has played more games in the American Hockey League (55) than the NHL (14).

"It's been a challenging couple of years, but I think it's made me a lot stronger," Petersen said. "I've got a lot more of a passion and commitment to my craft. And I think that's just enjoying every opportunity that I get, enjoying the people around me, enjoying getting better every day."

Scott Laughton, Ryan Poehling and Sean Couturier scored for Philadelphia (28-19-6).

Tomas Tatar and Jared McCann scored for Seattle (21-20-10), which lost its fifth straight on the road. Joey Daccord made 35 saves.

It was the Kraken's first game since Jan. 30.

"There were more plays to be completed, to be had, especially in the first half of the hockey game," Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. "Little bit off in execution, and that changes the number of opportunities we were able to gain. Their team, they skate, they pressure, they stay on top, we know that. If you can make one extra play, you get opportunities. We got some of those, but not enough, and we didn't have enough of those clean opportunities in this game."

Laughton gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 4:36 of the first period with a power-play goal on a one-timer from the right face-off circle.

Tatar tied the game 1-1 at 17:09, shooting five-hole from the high slot. The goal was upheld after Philadelphia challenged for offside.

Poehling made it 2-1 with a wrist shot from the right circle while short-handed at 18:14. It was the second straight game the forward has scored on the penalty kill, and the Flyers' League-leading 12th short-handed goal.

"That's a huge point in the hockey game," Hakstol said. "That one's on us."

McCann tied it 2-2 at 36 seconds of the third period when his shot from the right side went off Couturier's stick and past Petersen.

Couturier put the Flyers back ahead 3-2 at 5:30. He won an offensive-zone face-off and skated to the net, where he redirected Travis Sanheim's shot past Daccord.

"It's just a simple play. Try to win it and get pucks to the net and go to the net," Couturier said. "I got the bounce there, so it was good. Big goal."

It was Couturier's first goal in 12 games and came after he was yelled at by coach John Tortorella on the bench for his play on McCann's goal.

"I respect 'Coots,' but I needed more out of him," Tortorella said. "I was waiting most of the night for that to get going. He probably doesn't need to hear it, but he probably will again if it happens that way. He's a pro. He knows when things are going well and when he needs to do more. But it was frustrating for me because we needed him, and he ends up scoring a goal on the next shift. And he played some key minutes after that.

"He is a huge part of this team if we're going to win, and he's not allowed to have a bad night or take a night off. He's not allowed. We're not good enough for him to be average."

NOTES: The Kraken have been outscored 17-6 during their five-game road losing streak, their longest since they lost seven straight from Feb. 17-March 8, 2022. ... McCann has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his past 11 games. ... Laughton's power-play goal was his first in 53 games this season. He had an NHL career-high five power-play goals in 78 games last season. ... Flyers forward Morgan Frost had an assist in 17:07 of ice time in his 200th NHL game.