Oilers stuffed in Philly, 4-1 Atkinson double leads Flyers

PHILADELPHIA – Cam Atkinson  scored a double on Thursday to help lead the Flyers to a 4-1 win over the visiting Edmonton Oilers. “I thought tonight we checked well,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “Not only checking but I thought we were clean through the neutral zone. We didn’t turn many [pucks] over. You just can’t turn it over with that team. Their offensive people don’t want to play in their end zone, so we really tried to concentrate on just placing pucks in their end zone and playing there. Getting through the neutral zone clean was a very important part of tonight’s game.”

Carter Hart made 22 saves in the Flyers win.

Joel Farabee scored at 15:50 of the first to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.

Atkinson scored in the middle frame for a 2-0 advantage to Philadelphia, the goal came at 3:54.

“I thought our game lacked urgency today,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “I didn’t see second and third effort in all areas of the game from up and down our lineup. Not to our standard; we play towards a standard and it wasn’t there for us tonight and that’s disappointing.”

Zach Hyman, who was the lone striker for Edmonton,hit at 15:23 to make it 2-1.

“I think we all have another level to get to,” the Oilers Connor McDavid said. “We haven’t been there yet this season. Lucky for us it’s only four games, but that being said, it’s four games. It’s time to put our best foot forward here and start playing good games.”

The Flyers went hp, 3-1, on a shorthanded goal from Sean Walker  at 18:29 of the second.

“Coming back and scoring that short-handed goal right away was important,” Tortorella said. “It kind of got us back on our toes a little bit.”

Atkinson’s double came at 4:17 of the third for the 4-1 final.

“It feels good,” Atkinson said. “I love playing at home in front of our fans. Kind of gives me a little bit more motivation, family in town and stuff like that. It’s always nice to score goals. That’s what I’m here to do.”

Jack Campbell made 29 saves in the Oilers loss.

We simply got outworked,” Oilers forward Warren Foegele said. “They wanted it more than us. Can’t win a game if you don’t want it. Execution wasn’t good either. That’s what’s been hurting us for a couple games. We’re not clean, we’re not quick. When we are quick we’re a dangerous team and right now we’re not.”