Grady Sas just called Michael Bunting's Monday night in Vancouver the hot mic of the season so far for the Flyers.
It was a busy night for the winger. He scored his first goal as a Flyer just 2:04 into the game, and Philadelphia went on to beat the Canucks 3-1.
Sas's verdict was blunt: nobody has been caught on a hot mic like this so far this season.
The Flyers' own account went with a line in quotation marks after the goal: "That one felt good to get." The team's post framed it as the goal that put Philadelphia in the driver's seat.
He finished with 3 shots on goal in 10:45 of ice time, and PHLY named him the game's second star. For a fourth-liner type minutes load, that's a lot of noise in a short shift count.
Then came the third period. Charlie O'Connor noted that Bunting took a penalty with 9:10 left, putting the Flyers on the PK, and that Bunting thinks Linus Karlsson sold it.
Does Bunting's first goal change his season?
Not by itself. He has 2 points in 9 games this year, one goal and one assist, with a -4 rating, so the first goal doesn't erase a slow start.
But a scorer who opens a game that early and stays involved enough to argue with the officials late has made a case for more than 10:45. Rick Tocchet has a team sitting 27th in the NHL, and goals from anywhere are worth a look.
The win moved the Flyers to 5-10-5 and 1-1-1 on the five-game road trip. It also came with some drama on the bench, as Matvei Michkov and Nick Seeler's bench clash is still being debated this morning.
Edmonton is next on Wednesday, and the Oilers are 2nd in the NHL at 13-3-3. Whether Bunting's minutes grow against that group is the first answer Tocchet will give.
Quick hits
NEW JERSEY DEVILSJames Nichols reports that Jake Allen is expected to start for the Devils in Winnipeg tonight against the Jets. The goalie call is the story in this one.
FLORIDA PANTHERSFlaHockeyNow just reported that Tom Wilson will not be suspended for his boarding hit on Sandis Vilmanis. The Panthers beat has a clear opinion on it.
NASHVILLE PREDATORSChris Johnston reports that Connor Hellebuyck won't start for the Devils in Winnipeg tonight, but he will still hear the boos. A strange homecoming.
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Rick Tocchet goes back to Vancouver with heat rising