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Flyers’ Scott Laughton seals win over New Jersey Devils, snaps two-game skid

Rasmus Ristolainen also reached 300 NHL points as the Flyers pulled off a 4-2 win Monday night.

Flyers center Scott Laughton watches his empty-net goal past New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic late in the third period on Jan. 27.
Flyers center Scott Laughton watches his empty-net goal past New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic late in the third period on Jan. 27.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer

Speaking to reporters after the Flyers’ optional morning skate, Scott Laughton said the Flyers “need to get rolling here.”

Well, let the good times roll.

The Flyers had a wire-to-wire 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center. It ended a two-game losing streak and the Flyers now have six wins in their past nine games.

Entering the night, the Devils had the second-best power play in the NHL. But it was held off the board, including a four-minute high-sticking minor on Rasmus Ristolainen 3 minutes, 50 seconds into the game. The Flyers and Devils each had two shots on goal, but it was the Flyers who scored a power-play goal later in the period. Bobby Brink found the back of the net before Lou Nolan finished announcing the tripping penalty to Curtis Lazar.

Off an offensive-zone faceoff, Ristolainen made a no-look pass from above the right circle to Brink atop the left. The forward ripped a one-timer past Jake Allen for his seventh goal this season. Brink is now one point shy of tying his career-high set last season (23).

Just as Nolan got done announcing Brink’s goal, Joel Farabee made it 2-0. Laughton sent a puck on goal that seemed to handcuff Allen and Farabee, crashing the net, knocked in the rebound. The goal, his eighth of the season and 90th of his NHL career, came just 28 seconds after Brink scored — and was punctuated with a first-down celebration.

Less than three minutes into the second period, Garnet Hathaway extended the Flyers' lead to 3-0. The fourth line, which includes Anthony Richard and Rodrigo Ābols, got one as Hathaway tipped in a shot by Cam York. Ristolainen collected the secondary assist, giving him 300 NHL points.

Sam Ersson continues to rock as he allowed only two goals on 33 shots. The first goal wasn’t really his fault. The shot by Dougie Hamilton went off the crossbar and into the air with Travis Sanheim trying to knock it away — except the puck went off the back of Ersson and in. The goal came with 73 seconds remaining in the second period.

The second came with 1:22 left in the third period when the Flyers couldn’t get the puck out of their end. Timo Meier finished it off with a one-timer from the right circle.

» READ MORE: Here are three numbers that could change the Flyers’ season after consecutive losses

Outside of that, Ersson was stellar.

He made a big save on Meier less than 2 minutes after Hathaway scored. Then, with the teams skating four-on-four, he made three saves, including stopping Jesper Bratt from atop the crease, followed by a save on a quick shot by Dawson Mercer after receiving a pass from the half wall.

Ersson stoned Jack Hughes with his blocker midway through the middle frame on a two-on-one, but it was the Flyers who were getting tons of odd-man rushes. The only problem, Allen was in the way.

The Flyers had chances to break the game wide open in the third before Laughton added an empty-netter. But the Devils goalie stoned Hathaway on a two-on-one off a pass from Morgan Frost and 41 seconds later robbed Brink after he received a pass from Jamie Drysdale on a two-on-one.

Breakaways

Laughton returned to the lineup after missing three games due to a family matter. ... Egor Zamula has now missed two straight games with an upper-body ailment. ... Sean Couturier did not play due to illness. ... Devils captain Nico Hischier did not play due to an undisclosed injury. ... Members of the Eagles, including cornerback Cooper DeJean who rode the Zamboni, were in attendance. ... Noted Flyers fan actor David Boreanaz was also in attendance and stopped by the locker room after the game.

Up next

The Flyers head up I-95 for a rematch with the Devils on Wednesday at the Prudential Center (7 p.m., TNT, truTV, max).