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Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet let his displeasure with his players be known on Sunday. On Tuesday, his team responded in a big way, surviving a blown three goal lead to win an exciting 5-4 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
The win helped snap a two game losing skid over the weekend that closed out a five game home-stand.
After dominant three goal first period, the Flyers took it on the chin in the next 20 minutes, giving up four goals. However, Nikita Grebenkin’s first ever NHL goal helped them force overtime, before goalie Daniel Vladar was able to shut down Ivan Demidov, Cole Caufield, and Nick Suzuki in the shootout.
Right winger Bobby Brink scored two goals, including one of the Flyers two power-play goals. Defenseman Cam York picked up a goal and an assist, while Travis Konency added two assists
In a game that was a circus act, Trevor Zegras remains the ring master of playmaking for the Flyers. The team’s leading scorer added two assists, scored the shootout winning goal. He has four goals and nine assists for 13 points in 12 games.
Flyers Game Summary
During the third period of Sunday night’s 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, Tocchet shifted his forward lines. Those lines remained predominantly the same with the exceptions of Nicolas Deslauriers drawing in for Rodrigo Abols on the fourth line and Emil Andrae coming in for Egor Zamula on the third defense pairing next to Noah Juulsen.
Trevor Zegras-Christian Dvorak-Owen Tippett
Nikita Grebenkin-Noah Cates-Travis Konecny
Matvei Michkov-Sean Couturier-Bobby Brink
Nicolas Deslauriers-Jacob Gaucher-Garnet Hathaway
Cam York-Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler-Jamie Drysdale
Emil Andrae-Noah Juulsen
First Period
Brink’s first goal came as the result of Sean Coututier working the puck out of the corner with multiple Canadiens converging on him. He got the puck out to defenseman Cam York, who passed the puck over to his defense partner Travis Sanheim. Brink deflected home Sanheim’s shot to put the Flyers up 1-0.
Shortly after, the Flyers would take a two goal lead when Trevor Zegras made a spectacular spin-around pass to Cam York on the power-play, opening up a clear shooting lane. York made no mistake for his first goal of the year.
Subsequently, Brink was able to put a strong finishing touch on a dominant first period for the Flyers. Brink banged home a shot at the right post, following some nifty stick work by Zegras near the left circle to give the Flyers a 3-0 lead.
Second Period
However, the Canadiens prodigious offense roared back with four goals in the second period. Center Kirby Dach led the way with two goals of his own. Montreal’s really started when they scored two goals in 1:03. The first goal saw Dach scored off a board carom following a Noah Dobson shot.
Following a ticky-tack penalty on Travis Sanheim, Montreal took full advantage then Nick Suzuki added a power-play goal in short order.
Both teams continued to trade chances as the period continued. Dach would tally his second of the game as he jammed home one past Flyers goalies Dan Vladar after Lane Hutson’s chance.
Following that, Brink would draw a questionable tripping call against Ivan Demidov. Following a fumble at the point and near clear, Hutson was able to get the puck over to Juraj Slavkovsky. The Slovak forward quickly got it to Demidov who ripped a wrist shot past Vladar for the Habs’ second power-play goal of the period.
Third Period
In the third period, the Flyers pressed their territorial advantage, but Canadien goalie Samuel Montembeault made several critical saves both at even strength and the power-play.
Finally, Grebenkin was able to break through, firing a shot through a crowd in front of the Canadiens’ goalie to tie the game at 4-4. His goal came off a quick transition play started by defenseman Jamie Drysdale at 10:51 to set the stage for the finish.
Overtime and Shootout
Travis Konecny got an initial break-in chance on Montembault following Trevor Zegras lugging the puck. Ivan Demidov would respond with a chance of his own, but Vladar was able to deny him. Following that, Montreal dominated possession with four consecutive shots before the Flyers could finally get it back with about a minute left.
After a late penalty called on Demidov, the Flyers had one last opportunity following a draw, but Konecny was unable to get a shot off, leading to the shootout. Zegras was able to fire home a quick trigger one timer through Montembault’s five hole, while Vladar shut the door on all three Canadiens’ shooters.
3 Takeaways, Powered by Phans of Philly
1. Flyers Carry Play Even Strength In Regulation
Despite the closeness of the score, it was pretty evident the Flyers pressured the Canadiens throughout the game in their zone.
Per Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers had a 57.32 percent Corsi-For to the Canadiens 42.68 and an Expected Goals For of 2.58 to Montreal’s 2.18.
Montreal also took advantage of two questionable penalty calls on Travis Sanheim and Bobby Brink to get two of their four goals on the power-play.
2. Flyers Near Comical Disparities in Shots For and Face-Off Percentage
The Flyers outshot the Canadiens 42-20 in the game. A dominant first period was punctuated not just by their two power-play goals, but a 12-2 shot advantage. They continued to press their advantage in the middle period with 17 shots to Montreal’s nine. Which made the Canadiens four goal outburst all the more outlandish.
Conversely, the Canadiens absolutely destroyed the Flyers on face-offs, as Montreal had a 66 to 34 percent advantage. Noah Cates was three for 14, while Christian Dvorak, in his return to Bell Centre, was seven for 18.
3. Deslauriers Turned The Tide, Literally.
It’s become almost expected to hear the audible complaints from fans whenever Nicolas Deslauriers draws into the Flyers lineup.
Make no mistake, his decisive early third period fight win against the formidable Arber Xhehaj seemed to give the team a lift after falling behind in the second period. The Flyers seemed to play with the confidence of a team that could still win the game. Moments like that encourage a bench to continue to push.
