BOX SCORE

The Philadelphia Little Flyers EHL team made sure they didn’t need any theatrics in the second half of its back-to-back, home-and-home set with Team Maryland.

Monday was about taking care of business.

Jakub Kubik did just that. 

The Czech netminder, who earned his first career junior win after going a perfect 5 for 5 in 11 minutes of action in relief of Tyler Cassidy during Sunday’s 6-5 overtime thriller (see story), made 19 saves on 20 shots to help the Little Flyers past Team Maryland, 4-1, at Ice World. 

Kubik had plenty of help in the first period. Philadelphia used a four-goal explosion to take firm control of the game.

Kyle Patton opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the season. Avery Arnold made an intelligent pinch to set Patton up for an uncontested shot from the top of the circle at 6:32.

A couple shifts later, Patton lost an offensive-zone draw but made sure to quickly pressure a Team Maryland defender in the corner. He then poked the puck loose along the boards to Gavin Fritch, who did his best Peter Forsberg impression by skating back to the point, tip-toeing the line and wheeling down the opposite wing before firing a wrister home to give PLF a 2-0 lead.

The Little Flyers continued to dominate late in the frame. While on a man advantage at 17:45, Scott MeGraw, who has been tremendous in the faceoff circle this season, won a draw back to Dante Gattone on the left boards. Gattone made a cross-ice pass to Shane Green at the point before Green sent it over to Ryan Clear, who took two strong strides towards the net and fired a heavy shot on goal. Clear’s initial attempt was blocked but he crashed the net hard after an awkward ricochet and deposited the rebound for his second tally of 2020-21.

Robbie Seewagen remained red-hot with his fifth goal of the season at 18:19 to put PLF up 4-0. Fritch and Patton picked up assists after some impressive back-and-forth passes on the cycle.

Taking a 4-0 lead into the second period, Philadelphia put an emphasis on defense the rest of the way. Mark Catron’s group did an exceptional job shutting down Team Maryland on the rush, limiting high-danger opportunities in front and owning the middle of the ice.

Kubik was beat just once, when Halen Cookston buried a nice feed from Denys Arkhypenko at 12:27 of the middle frame.

Loose pucks
Seewagen extended his point streak to four games (3G, 2A). ... Patton now has three goals and five assists in his last three contests. ... Fritch has had a goal and an assist in back-to-back games. ... The Little Flyers were a perfect 3 for 3 on the penalty kill Monday. They went 1 for 4 on the power play. ... Philadelphia has a full week off. The Little Flyers will next be in action on Monday, Oct. 26 against the Protec Jr Ducks. Puck drop is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Protec Ponds.