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The Philadelphia Flyers saw their season come to an end on Saturday night, following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Winger Jackson Blake scored the game-winner at 5:31 of the extra period. Following a red line turnover by defenseman Jamie Drysdale, Taylor Hall knifed into the Flyers zone and found his linemate on the rush. Blake fired a shot that fluttered through traffic in front.
The puck hit off of goalie Dan Vladar’s gloves and into the net. As a result, the Hurricanes swept the Flyers in four games, becoming the first team since 1985 Edmonton Oilers to win eight consecutive games to start the playoffs. Of note, two of the Hurricanes four wins in the series came in overtime (Game Two and Four)
The goal set off a raucous Carolina celebration in their end of the ice. But at the same, the Xfinity Mobile Arena crowd showered their team with deafening “Let’s Go Flyers” chants.
Despite the difficult conclusion, the fan’s vocal support punctuated a simple truth. the Flyers were back in the city’s sports consciousness after a long absence.
Flyers Strike First
Much like Game Three’s start, the Flyers started the first period determined and playing with pace. While Carolina carried the initial shot advantage, they were able to keep pace with them. And they were rewarded with their first lead since the first period of Game Two on the effort of a player who had struggled offensively through their playoff run.
Winger Tyson Foerster put the Flyers on the board first at 7:50 with his first goal (and first playoff point). Following a great pass by Trevor Zegras, Foerster cut to the slot and fired a wrist shot that beats Frederik Anderson under his glove.
Porter Martone picked up the second assist after getting puck out of the corner. Martone would continue to build on his performance, after a solid game on Thursday.
Hurricanes Dominate Possession In The Second Period
The Hurricanes would put on a dominant second period performance to put pressure on Dan Vladar and the Flyers defense.
Carolina would tie the game at 1-1. Shortly after a offensive zone draw, winger Jackson Blake made a tight cut to lose a Flyers defenseman. He fire a quick shot towards the net that beat Vladar through traffic. On replay, the puck seemed to carom off of Jamie Drysdale.
Seconds later it looked like Carolina scored to go ahead but William Carrier interfered with Vladar in the paint, while engaged with defenseman Oliver Bonk.
Center Christian Dvorak nearly gave the Flyers the lead in the dying moments of the second period, firing a shot that rang off the post to Andersen’s glove side. Winger Travis Konency with a perfect pass to set it up, following a rush chance led by Rasmus Ristolainen.
However, that doesn’t paper over an ugly second period where the Flyers were fortunate to remain tied.
Hurricanes, Flyers Trade Goals In The Third Period
Early in the third period, the Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead on Logan Stakoven’s seventh goal of the playoffs. Taylor Hall got around defenseman Oliver Bonk and fed Stankoven at the net. Though he didn’t get the assist, former Flyer Sean Walker started the rush out of the Flyers end, getting the puck up to Jackson Blake.
Two shifts later, the Flyers got their response goal. Travis Konecny won a board battle on a hard forecheck, then he got the puck to Alex Bump. The rookie one timed the puck past Andersen for his second playoff goal at 5:50. Konecny had Jordan Staal in his face and about to crush him with a check before he got the pass off.
Both teams would continue to trade chances. But Carolina’s continual pressure mounted as the Flyers neutral zone turnovers continued to pile up. Neither team would be able to find the winner in regulation.
Overtime: A Tale Of The Inevitable
The Flyers opened overtime with fourth line getting a strong shift. But it didn’t last long as the Hurricanes continued to probe and pressure with only a gift icing following an Eric Robinson stumble in the neutral zone.
It seemed only a matter of time before it seemed the Hurricanes would find the net. And after five and half minutes of overtime hockey, they would.
The Good
- Foerster finally getting back to looking like the player he was prior to his bicep injury, which took him out for 49 regular season games. He struggled with postseason pace, but turned the corner in Game Three before looking like a genuine threat tonight.
- Porter Martone continued carrying over his strong play from Game Three into Saturday night’s game. Beyond his first period assist, he helped to spring Foerster for a chance on net by picking a Carolina defender at the blueline. Then he followed the play to the net and had a chance of his own.
- Konecny had a very good game with seven hits, no giveaways, and won a key puck battle to set up Alex Bump’s goal in the third period.
- Dan Vladar held the Flyers in this one until he couldn’t any longer, finishing with 37 saves on 40 shots.
- Cam York put forward a strong Game Four with eight blocked shots in 24:35 of ice time. He was on the ice for both Flyers goals and none for Carolina’s. He finished with 30 shifts, with four of the six minutes the Flyers were shorthanded.
The Bad
- There was a lot of pregame buzz with defenseman Oliver Bonk and Jett Luchanko coming into the line-up for Matvei Michkov and Emil Andrae. In reality, it was a mixed bag kind of game for the Flyers rookies. Bonk’s mis-read on Taylor Hall’s rush led to the Hurricanes second goal, which put the Flyers on their heels in the third period. However, he showed a willingness to engage physically. Luchanko was kind of “just there” as Michkov’s replacement.
- Bump scored the game-tying goal but also struggled with Carolina’s pressure. He finished the game with a minus-two.
- Carolina absolutely riddled the Flyers in the shot-attempt department. They had 84 to the Flyers 39.
- Early on, the Flyers greatly struggled on face-offs (60 percent) in the first period. However, they were able to close the gap as the game wore on.
The Ugly
- Matvei Michkov’s second healthy scratch of the playoffs is sure to set off plenty of debate about his lack of effective play during the postseason. This playoff run was seen as a learning tool for the Flyers young players. But the second year player struggled while the lights were bright. With the exception of Game Six against Pittsburgh and in overtime of Game Two in Carolina, he was a liability on the ice. He has a lot of work ahead of him this summer to rebuild trust.
- Over the course of the playoffs, the Flyers could not convert their odd man rushes or breakaways, including three two-one-chances.. They had 11 combined chances in 10 playoff games. When opportunity knocked, Philadelphia couldn’t answer. For a team with a fine margin for error against a superior opponent, it was a difference maker in the series.
- As much as their odd-man rush struggles were a culprit, the Flyers power-play remains their Kryptonite. They finished the series 1 for 19 (including a shorthanded goal against). They had a five on three power-play for 40 second in the second period and couldn’t put a shot on net. No doubt, it will remain a major area of focus for the offseason.
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