Flyers win in OT, push point streak to season-best 6 games originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
In another tight, who-blinks-first kind of game, the Flyers picked up a 2-1 overtime win Tuesday night over the Red Wings at the Wells Fargo Center.
Rasmus Ristolainen scored the OT winner with 26 seconds left. Joel Farabee netted the Flyers’ other goal and assisted Ristolainen’s marker.
The Flyers (22-20-6) are on a season-best six-game point streak (5-0-1). They’ve outscored opponents 22-10 over the run. Since their 1-5-1 start to the season, they’ve gone 21-15-5.
“I think the way we played early in the season probably wasn’t reflective of the team that we are,” general manager Danny Briere said at morning skate. “There are many reasons for that, but the way we’ve played, especially lately, I think we’re starting to see our identity kind of come back.”
John Tortorella’s club improved to 11-4-6 in games decided by one goal and 9-6 after regulation.
“I think as a young team, we’re learning to play those tight games, be patient, not open up and give in,” Sean Couturier said. “These are good learning experiences. We’re finding ways to get results, so it’s always rewarding. It’s nice for the confidence; we’ve just got to build on that.”
The Flyers went 2-1-0 against the Red Wings (21-21-5) in their regular-season series.
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• Samuel Ersson made 27 saves on 28 shots.
Detroit cracked him 30 seconds into the third period to tie the game at 1-1 with a goal from Ben Chiarot. The Flyers’ reliable line of Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates and Bobby Brink was on the ice for it.
Ersson survived a bit of a scare later in the period when he came out to play a puck and turned it over to the Red Wings. However, Detroit failed to execute on a 2-on-1 as Ersson hustled back to his net.
The 25-year-old also made some strong saves in the final stanza. He has really found his game for the Flyers, going 7-1-0 with a 1.56 goals-against average, .935 save percentage and one shutout since the holiday break.
“Ers has steadied himself, looks so much more confident,” Tortorella said. “He’s not busy. When I evaluate Ers, in my mind, just watching him play, when he’s not busy and the puck’s hitting him, you can tell he’s there. He made some key saves at the end to give us an opportunity.”
Alex Lyon, who spent five seasons in the Flyers’ organization, mostly…