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The Philadelphia Flyers got off to the fast start they wanted in the first period of Game Two. But they just couldn’t add to it.
In the end it haunted them, as they fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Taylor Hall’s game-winning goal at 18:54 of the extra period.
As a result, the Flyers now trail the Hurricanes 2-0 in their best of seven Eastern Conference Semifinals Series. Game Three will be in Philadelphia on Thursday.
Hall’s goal came following a rush chance that led to a goal mouth scramble. After the puck ticked off goalie Dan Vladar’s glove, it went to Jackson Blake, who fluttered the puck across to Hall who ticked it past the Flyers goalie.
It was a crushing defeat for the Flyers, following a pair of goals to start the game and a near dominant overtime period. But as it happens so often in playoff hockey, the game-winning goal was a greasy one.
Fast Start for Philly, But Canes Stay Close
After going seven postseason games without scoring a goal in the opening period, they made up for lost time with two of them.
Following former Flyers defenseman Sean Walker accidentally cleared the puck out of play, Philadelphia got a power-play. After a rough Game One with the man-advantage, they got to the front of the net after a rush led by Travis Konecny. Goalie Freddie Andersen clear the puck into the slot right to defenseman Jamie Drysdale, who fired it past him to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
Only 31 seconds later, the Flyers fourth line got to work. Luke Glendening got the puck deep in the Carolina end. Carl Grundstrom was able to fish the puck and fired a pass to a waiting Sean Couturier at the net, who banged it past Andersen to give Philadelphia a two goal lead.
The Flyers seemed to have the momentum, but the Hurricanes got their first power-play of the game following Cam York’s holding penalty. For most of the power-play, Philadelphia got some good clears. However, Rasmus Ristolainen tried to pull a board clear that failed. Carolina worked the puck around past an overcommitted Glendening.
Nikolaj Ehlers fired a blazing one-timer that went off Dan Vladar’s shoulder and into the net to cut the Flyers lead to 2-1.
In the second period, the Hurricanes poured on the pressure, firing 15 shots on goal. However, Vladar made several huge stops in denying them them the equalizer through 40 minutes. It was a period punctuated by penalties for both teams. By the end of the period, both teams had five power-plays each.
Jarvis’ Equalizer Sends It To Overtime
Philadelphia was able to get some looks in the third period, but Andersen was able to keep the game close throughout. Then the Flyers rookie line with Porter Martone and Alex Bump got caught deep in the offensive zone, allowing the Hurricanes to counter rush.
As a result, Ehlers made a slick move into the offensive, then got the puck back to Seth Jarvis who wired a wrist shot past Vladar at 11:21, setting up the game for overtime and Hall’s eventual game winner.
The Good
- Sean Couturier put forth what might’ve been the best in-game performances of his career. He and linemates Luke Glendening and Carl Grundstrom were relentless in getting pucks deep. But it was play after play in all zones for the Flyers captain, beyond his first period goal, that brought to mind his Selke winning season from seven years ago. His shorthanded chance late in the second period was a result of pure hustle, as he beat a Canes defender to the puck and fired a cross body wrist shot. He consistently won puck battles and was the Flyers primary face-off weapon, winning 11 of 19. He finished with five shots, five hits, and a takeaway.
- Vladar stopped 39 shots and had a stellar second period performance in keeping the Hurricanes at bay. Yes, the power-play goal he gave up to Ehlers in the first period was a leaky one, but he made some amazing stops in this one. He denied Eric Robinson three times on Grade A chances, including a breakaway. His third period post-to-post stop on Logan Stankoven prevented the Hurricanes from getting momentum after tying the game.
- Getting off to a fast start and the Flyers dominant overtime period (13-5 shot advantage prior to Hall’s game winner) proved that they can hang with the East’s top team. Now comes the tough task of finding a way to climb back into the series after a heart-breaking loss in a game they had chances to win.
- Matvei Michkov was the Flyers’ most dangerous offensive player in overtime. It was his best performance of the playoffs so far. The Flyers need more of this version of the player if they are to climb back in the series.
- Carl Grundstrom justified Tocchet’s decision to put him in the Game Two lineup. The Swede’s forechecking work made the second Philadelphia goal possible. He dished out six hits during the game and generated two shots on (four attempts) in 13:45 TOI.
The Bad
- It was not the best on-puck game for defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. As rock solid as he was in the first round, he might be the Flyers poster child for how the Hurricanes ability to “speed up your clock” leads to mystifying puck handling decisions. He made a poor decision to attempt a bank clear, when he could’ve flipped the puck up the ice. That led to Ehler’s power-play goal. He was also torched by Seth Jarvis on a second period power-play that led to a dangerous shorthanded chance.
- Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet made some tactical changes to his team, heading into Game 2. The headliners were Trevor Zegras moving back to the left wing and onto Christian Dvorak’s line. Denver Barkey moved to the middle of the third line with Porter Martone and Alex Bump. Unfortunately, while the re-jiggered top line got looks, they failed to score. And the rookie line were beaten in transition on Jarvis’ game tying goal, with Bump in particular biting on the Dane forward’s slick move. The rookie trio was on the ice for both of Carolina’s even strength goals.
- There’s little question that the forwards are missing Owen Tippett’s game breaking speed, as he sat out the second game of the series with an injury. Getting him back in the lineup for Game Three on Thursday is practically a must.
The Ugly
- The Flyers power-play got looks, but ended the game 1 for 7, including a missed opportunity in overtime. The sad part for Philadelphia was that the process in getting successful zone entries and passing the puck to the bumper were good. But they once again struggled to get second and third chances.
- Travis Konecny had the game on his stick in overtime and shot the puck wide. It was a glorious opportunity that Hurricanes gave the Flyers leading scorer as he flashed through their defense. But his lack of finish in a big spot is a reason why the Flyers are headed home down with a two game deficit. It’s been a disappointing playoff for Konecny, who needs to elevate his play (two goals and 12 points in 30 playoff games) for his team to have a chance to win in this series.
- With the exception of Couturier , the Hurricanes owned the Flyers on faceoffs. Dvorak won only five of 15 draws. Noah Cates fared even worse at 5-for-18. In addition, Luke Glendening was four for 12. Just a bad night at the dot. At least Barkey managed a 3-for-6 night.
Home › Forums › Canes Sink Flyers in OT: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly of Game 2
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