Travis Sanheim speaks after Flyers' win in Vancouver

Travis Sanheim just explained what the Flyers' win in Vancouver showed, and the big question now is whether they can finally play 60 minutes.

Philadelphia beat the Canucks 3-1 last night on the second half of a back-to-back. Sanheim put away an empty-net goal, and Joseph Woll stopped 18 of 19 shots.

The win also came with the bench argument between Matvei Michkov and Nick Seeler's bench clash, which we covered this morning. The hockey deserves its own conversation.

The Flyers sit 27th in the NHL at 5-10-5, so every point counts right now. They are 1-1-3 away from that...

Actually the road trip is the point: they are 1-1-1 on this five-game trip, and Vancouver was the first win of it.

Sanheim told Jackie Spiegel the effort "shows the style that is needed," and he singled out how hard it is to come out with that kind of energy on a back-to-back.

He said the guys were eager to get going and wanted to get back on track, and that the first two periods were exactly that. Per Sam Nolan, another player said the team has played pretty good for 2 1/2 weeks without putting together a 60-minute game, and was "closer tonight."

Closer is the right word. Philadelphia led 3-0 at one point, then watched the Canucks outshoot them 16-15 in the third, and Woll took a delay-of-game penalty along the way.

Jordan Hall wrote that, despite more third-period stress, the Flyers found a way to nail down a game they couldn't afford to give up.

Can the Flyers finally play a full 60 minutes?

Not yet, and the third period is the evidence. A team that builds a three-goal cushion against the worst record in the league shouldn't need an empty-net goal and its goalie's best work to hold on.

The Flyers have gone back and forth over their last five games, and the pattern of good stretches followed by lapses is hard to miss.

Wednesday's opponent will punish that. The Oilers are 13-3-3, and Connor McDavid has 48 points in 19 games, a pace that has been pegged at 212 points.

Tocchet's group can't count on a 40-minute effort in Edmonton. The Flyers get their next shot at a full game Wednesday at Rogers Place.

Quick hits

COLORADO AVALANCHECorey Masisak reports Mackenzie Blackwood was the first goalie off the ice for the Avalanche in Toronto this morning. That looks like the goalie call for the Maple Leafs showdown.

DALLAS STARSMiro Heiskanen was not on the ice at Stars practice this morning, according to beat writer Robert Tiffin. Still no answer on his situation, and that's a worry in Dallas.

MINNESOTA WILDThe Canadiens confirmed Jacob Fowler starts tonight against the Wild, with Carey Price watching from the stands. Minnesota's own goalie spot is still open.

GOALIE MATCHUPJ.P. Rutherford says Jim Montgomery's Blues will go with Joel Hofer tonight against the Red Wings. Detroit gets a look at him in St. Louis.

REUNIONDawson Mercer popped onto the Devils' bench at the end of their morning skate in Winnipeg to say hi to his old teammates. Nice moment, per Amanda Stein.

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.