Flyers defeat Jets for second straight win after 13 losses in row

PHILADELPHIA -- James van Riemsdyk scored a tiebreaking goal in the third period, helping the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.

It was the second straight win for Philadelphia (15-22-8) after it lost 13 consecutive games (0-10-3). Carter Hart made 32 saves after making 37 when the Flyers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime Saturday.
It's the first time the Flyers have won consecutive games since Dec. 18 and Dec. 29.
"It sounds crazy that we were losing all those games, but I could feel improvement," Flyers coach Mike Yeo said. "We're building confidence in the type of game we want to play. I feel we're building better habits. ... I feel there's a lot of progress, but I feel there's still a long way to go for us."

Kyle Connor scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves for the Jets (18-17-7).
"We made a mistake at the wrong time," Jets coach Dave Lowry said. "We're looking to push, to score, to create the offense. We take a risk, turn the puck over and it's coming back the other way."
Van Riemsdyk gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead with 4:09 left in the third period. Scott Laughton led a 2-on-1 and Hellebuyck saved his shot from the right side. Van Riemsdyk drove to the net and backhanded the rebound.
"It hits off his pad and you've got one of the best guys in the game around the net," Laughton said of van Riemsdyk. "Let him tap that in and win that one for us."
Oskar Lindblom scored an empty-net goal with 1:14 left for the 3-1 final.
Connor gave the Jets a 1-0 lead 48 seconds into the first period. Cole Perfetti passed to Connor open on the right side of the Flyers zone.
Van Riemsdyk said the Flyers were able to stay positive rather than sinking after giving up the early goal.
"It is cliche but I think the best teams, the best players, that's what you do," van Riemsdyk said. "If it goes good, goes bad, you worry about the next play. We've kind of gotten back to basics a little bit."
Travis Konecny tied it 1-1 at 10:42 of the second period. Laughton's forecheck led to a giveaway by Jets defenseman Neal Pionk. Konecny got to the puck and shot from the left face-off circle.

Laughton didn't get an assist on the goal but his effort, which included two shots on goal, three blocked shots, two drawn penalties and 11 face-off wins, was notable.
"He's a warrior, he's a battler," Yeo said. "We put him in every position. One of the things I like about him is he's unselfish. He doesn't flinch. Just goes out and plays for the team every night. Big reason he's got a letter on his jersey [alternate captain] right now."
Winnipeg felt it had chances throughout the game, including two power plays, but was unable to capitalize.
"We got the momentum [in the first] and then lost it and they had it," Jets forward Paul Stastny said. "When you're pressing, sometimes that happens, you get away from your game and you start trying to make an extra play. That kind of fed into their game where they had a couple of chances off transition. [Hellebuyck] made big saves for us all night. Third period was pretty even both sides. Unfortunate bounce, they get a 2-on-1 and they score."
The Jets had ended a six-game skid (0-4-2) with a 4-1 win at the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, but they couldn't sustain the momentum Tuesday.
"It's extremely disappointing," Lowry said. "We played a perfect road game a couple of days ago and we got rewarded. We were patient, the detail was there in our game. We made some mistakes tonight that we didn't make on Saturday."
NOTES:Connor has scored 25 goals in 42 games this season. Ilya Kovalchuk is the only other player in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history to score 25 goals in fewer games (32 games, 2007-08; 35, 2009-10; 37, 2005-06). … Connor is one of three active NHL players with five consecutive 25-goal seasons, along with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. ... Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey had one shot on goal in 23:44 of ice time after missing three games in NHL COVID-19 protocol. ... Pierre-Luc Dubois had an assist on Connor's goal to extend his point streak to four games (one goal, three assists). ... Winnipeg is 0-8-1 in its past nine games in Philadelphia, dating to a 2-1 shootout win Jan. 31, 2012. … It was the first game between the teams since Feb. 22, 2020.