Not that he could ever reprise Daniel Day-Lewis in “My Left Foot,” but Scott Hartnell’s personal woes in that department are worthy of mention.
He blocked a shot on Jan. 14 in Buffalo and had been wearing a walking boot on and off since.
Hartnell felt certain there was fracture, but a CT scan proved otherwise.
And while most would say his constant falling on the ice leading to the #Hartnelldown mantra is proof he really does have two left feet, it didn’t seem to bother him Tuesday during the Flyers’ 5-0 rout over the Detroit Red Wings (see game recap).
Hartnell had his first two-goal game of the season as the Flyers snapped a four-game losing skid (0-3-1).
Everyone had their legs moving in this one, Hartnell said.
“Our start was crucial,” he said. “We came out of the gates skating, hitting, we were on the puck. We created turnovers.
“We needed two points. They were ahead of us in the standings. We’re going on a really tough road trip out west. We needed to get our confidence back and high going into that trip. I think guys, first line through fourth line, played hard.”
Hartnell's line with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek had seven points. Keep in mind Hartnell has been moved up and down the lineup this season.
“When we had a chance we buried it,” Voracek said of his unit. “That’s the biggest point out there because sometimes you get so many chances and you just can’t get a goal.
“I think today Hartsy did such a good job driving to the net. We got a couple of bounces and made some plays out offensively.”
Hartnell scored a power-play goal in the first period and one off the wing in the second period.
“Me, Jake and Hartsy played together before and you can see a little bit of the chemistry there, but we need to be a little better, too,” Giroux said.
“If we spend a little more time in the defensive zone, we’re going to be better.”
Milestone
Longtime Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin worked his 1,500th NHL game and was presented with a piece of engraved crystal from Tiffany & Co. before the game by the club.
“It's been great to be part of an organization like the Philadelphia Flyers all but one of those years [a season with the Hartford Whalers],” McCrossin said.
“I couldn't ask for anything better. I've met some phenomenal people and the fans have awesome. I feel truly blessed to be here today and to have 1,500 games under my belt. I'm hoping for another 1,500.”
Loose pucks
Wednesday's game was the eighth time the Flyers have beaten the Red Wings by five goals. That tied the second-most lopsided win over Detroit in Flyers history. … The Flyers won 12-2 over Detroit on Feb. 2, 1974. … The Flyers have scored on the power play in 10 of their last 13 games. They are 11 for 48 over that span for 22.9 percent efficiency. … The Flyers took the season series over Detroit, 2-1. The last time that happened was 1987-88 when they went 2-0-1 against the Red Wings. They also extended their regular-season home winning streak over Detroit to eight games. The last regular-season loss to the Wings here in Philadelphia came on Jan. 25, 1997. ... Steve Mason’s shutout was his 21st lifetime.