Captain Clutch Giroux And Carter Hart Are Not Enough For The Flyers To Beat Tampa “It Is Just G Doing What He Does”

Photo Credit: Our very own Ricky Brown

Claude Giroux scored just 1:34 into the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and you would think the Flyers would be feeling great from this. However, they were mightily outshot in the first and second periods. Fortunately, Carter Hart was up to the task, and allowed the Flyers to dominate the third period to an eventual point after losing in the shootout 4-3 on Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Wells Fargo Center. Oskar Lindblom received a standing ovation during the first period.

The Flyers were fortunate to be up 2-0 at the end of the first period, while being outshot 13 to 5. They were outplayed and dominated in the first period, and that type of play carried over into the second period where are the Flyers again we’re out shot 26-12 at the end of 2, however, the Flyers found themselves tied at 2.

All in all Carter Hart was there for them, until the Flyers dominated the third period, and held Tampa Bay to only three shots on net. The Flyers were able to play their game in the third period, and they dictated to play for once. Unfortunately, Hart had some equipment malfunction that led to the Steven Stamkos goal, which put Tampa Bay ahead 3 to 2. What a shame for Hart, who made timely saves once again, and for the Flyers after dominating the third period:

“I mean, I wouldn’t play that any different. Just kind of an equipment malfunction there. I’m on my post, I’m not leaning over too far. I mean those pads I’ve only used 4 times, so they’re pretty new. You expect that from older sets. Just kind of fluky and something I’ll look into with my gear.” – Carter Hart

The Flyers held a Tampa Bay team to only three shots in a period. Let me say this again, the Flyers held a lethal Tampa Bay team the only three shots in the third period. People have seen this before where the Flyers dominate a period, and come out empty-handed. Not on this night as Claude Giroux scored the game time goal with just eight seconds left in regulation.

“I knew there was about 10 seconds left and I saw that there were a lot of bodies so I tried to sneak it into the net,” Giroux said postgame. “I wasn’t really trying to score, just trying to get it to the net.”

“I think for us he is big every night and tonight it was him scoring goals and other nights it is the way he shows his leadership. It is no surprise when it is a big game against a big opponent like that and our captain steps up and leads the team. It is just G doing what he does.” – Travis Konecny

In actuality the assist goes to the Flyers defense, and most namely Nick Seeler. Who finished the game with five hits, which led all players on the ice. Seeler seals gaps well, and knows how to take the body. He did that very well against Tampa last night, especially in the third period.

Fortunately, Hart was up to the task to steal a point for the Flyers, after backstopping 26 saves on 29 shots faced. He now owns a 2.32 GAA, and a .932 Save Percentage on the season, not bad after sting the defending champs, “He is doing what a goaltender needs to do for his team to have success,” Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said after the game. “He is giving his team a chance. He is making big saves at the right moment. We are getting top end goaltending right now.”

The Flyers have a complete off day today, and will reconvene for a morning skate at 1030 am at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.