Fedotov, Tippett make a big move as Flyers rally for shootout victory originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Ivan Fedotov and Owen Tippett answered the bell for the Flyers in a 2-1 shootout win over the Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday night.

Tippett buried a tying goal with 4:16 minutes left in regulation time and was one of the Flyers’ two scorers in the skills competition. Travis Konecny ​​scored on the team’s first try and Tippett wrapped up the deal on the second.

Fedotov, who had lost his backup job, played for the first time in 15 days and earned his first career NHL victory.

The Flyers (5-8-1) improved to 1-1-0 during their tough three-game road trip. This season they are 2-0 in the shootout.

They finally found a way to generate enough offense – at least on this night – without Matvei Michkov. The prized rookie was healthily scratched by head coach John Tortorella. More about that here.

The Flyers won’t see the Lightning (7-6-1) again until March, when the clubs will face off twice more in a five-day span.

• With Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov both unavailable due to lower-body injuries, Fedotov performed really well for the Flyers in Tampa Bay. And for themselves.

The 6-foot-2 netminder had given up 14 goals in three starts this season, leading the Flyers to draft Kolosov from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

Fedotov took advantage of the opportunity Thursday night, stopping 23 of 24 shots and another two in the shootout. He was more controlled and made some timely saves.

His only blemish was Nikita Kucherov’s wraparound goal with 45 seconds left in the first period.

The Flyers dictated the game more than before and defended quite well. Nick Seeler had a brave blocked shot in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime.

Kolosov was scratched from the start and is considered day-to-day. Ersson missed a second game in a row due to his injury.

With no one to back up Fedotov, the Flyers signed Kyle Konin to an amateur tryout. He wore No. 72 on the bench.

The 26-year-old played at Grand Valley State University in 2019-2020. He suited up as an emergency backup for the Lightning last season and the Blues in 2021-2022.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay’s 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion, made 31 saves on 32 shots.

The Flyers eventually beat him on Tippett’s goal, which came after a smooth backhander. The 25-year-old winger has scored goals in back-to-back games, a very good sign for the Flyers.

• The Flyers went 0 for 2 on the power play without Michkov. The 19-year-old winger leads the club in power play points with seven (three goals, four assists).

But the team’s penalty kill was once again excellent, going 2 for 2 and allowing the Lightning just one shot. It is now 12-12 over the past five games and running at 89.4 percent this season.

• Up front, Joel Farabee did not score, but played a very striking match.

At the back, Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale were steady in big minutes.

• Cam Atkinson faced the Flyers for the first time since being acquired by the club in June.

The veteran winger was denied by Fedotov on a breakaway in the second period.

• The road trip ends Saturday when the Flyers visit the defending champion Panthers (6 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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