Late game heroics and a spectacular performance in goal by Dennis Hildeby helped the Maple Leafs get past the Flyers 2-1 in overtime Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Hildeby’s stellar play in net kept Toronto in the game just long enough for the offence to kick in and rip a away a win from Philadelphia.
After a scoreless first period, the Flyers took the lead 55 seconds into the second. Travis Konecny snuck by the Leafs’ forwards to the high slot, took a pass from Christian Dvorak, and sniped a shot by Hildeby to make it 1-0.
The score would remain that way until 14:04 into the third. Scott Laughton played a carom off a wide Flyers’ shot, skated down the ice, and beat Dan Vladar with a wrist shot for a shorthanded goal to tie the game.
Neither team scored again in regulation. Hildeby was unflappable in the extra period, making several game-saving saves, his last one sprung John Tavares and Easton Cowan on a two-on-one the other way. Tavares hit Cowan with a behind-the-back pass, and Cowan fired it by Vladar for the game-winner at the 2:48 mark.
Next up, the Maple Leafs are back home Saturday night to take on the Vancouver Canucks.
