Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
Tonight the Flyers played the final match of a four game western road swing when they took on the Kraken in Seattle. Seattle was 2-2-0 coming in against Philly’s 1-1-1 record. So far all of the Flyers regular season games have been part of this trip. The western swing is never an easy trip and has been quite the challenge to start the 2024-25 season. The Flyers head home after this game to get back to regular life and prepare for the season home opener on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Philly vs Seattle
This game started out with a nice crispy pace with both squads looking more than ready to go. Just 4:23 into this match the Flyers got onto the score sheet. Garnet Hathaway made a smart play at the Kraken blue line hanging onto the puck just outside the zone until Scott Laughton could retouch onsides. When all was clear Hathaway entered the zone and hit Laughton with a pass. Laughton passed in front to Ryan Poehling who fired a shot wide of the net. Laughton grabbed the puck off the back dasher and quickly pulled a wraparound before goaltender Philipp Grubauer had time to cover the post.
The Flyers power-play has looked much improved so far this season at least partially due to the addition of Matvei Michkov. Michkov had not one but two power-play goals in the Flyers previous game. The power-play has to remain a priority for this team to be successful. Last season so many nights may have ended differently had they just been able to capitalize on opportunities. The Flyers had back to back man advantages in the first period but to no avail, Seattle looked ready for them and shut down the attack. The Kraken kept the Flyers passing the puck around the edges but unable to get into the dangerous areas.
Seattle tied the score at one when Brandon Montour fired a slapshot from the point that beat Flyers netminder Ivan Fedotov between the legs. It was a clean shot that Fedotov probably would like to have another crack at.
The Flyers fourth line was killing it all period and with just over a minute left Scott Laughton regained the lead for his team. Laughton fired a perfect shot over Grubauer’s shoulder from in close. The assists again went to Hathaway and Poehling.
Second Period
With Joel Farabee in the box the Kracken went on their second man advantage of the night. This time it was Jared McCann who beat Fedotov between the legs with a shot from the point 3:06 into the 2nd period. Fedotov made a flurry of confidence inducing saves following the second goal which like the first was not a good look.
The Flyers had some nice chances during a two minute 4 on 4 situation. Travis Sanheim was robbed by Grubauer right in front. It was fun to watch Konecny and Michkov with all that open ice to work with.
Two minutes fifty-five seconds
Then in just under three minutes the entire thing melted down. 14:57 Eeli Tolvanen from Burakovsky and Wright. 17:44 Jordan Eberle, assists McCann and Gourde. 17:52 Shane Wright from Eberle and McCann.
The stunned Flyers watched as in one period a 2-1 lead turned into a 5-2 deficit. Seattle clearly had the better of the Flyers not only on the scoreboard but all over the ice. A big hit on Michkov and then in the final seconds Konecny was slammed into the boards popping his helmet off with his head against the glass.
The goaltending was sub-par for sure, but the lack of coverage was absolutely a factor in the scoring as well. The Flyers totally got pushed around on the ice and totally hammered on the score sheet. There’s no way to sugar coat it, the second period was a disaster. And worse yet, there was little or no push-back.
Third Period
The final period started with Samuel Ersson in the Philadelphia net, no Konecny on the bench, and a giant hole for the Flyers to attempt to crawl out of.
About halfway through the period Travis Konecny returned to the bench. Then seconds later Cam York ripped a laser high glove side to bring the Flyers within two. Things were looking up a bit. Just after a very obvious kicked in disallowed Kraken “goal” tempers finally hit the boiling point. Sanheim and Luchanko were wrapped up in a big ball of scrum behind the Flyers net as Travis Konecny squared off at center ice with Yann Gourde.
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Falling short
Play resumed with 7:34 left and the Flyers on the power-play. Jamie Drysdale brought the Flyers to within a goal with a shot from the right point on the man advantage. The Flyers were mounting pressure in the Seattle zone. Owen Tippett had a couple nice chances but the puck eventually broke loose and Oliver Bjorkstrand went in alone and beat Ersson on a clean breakaway.
With the Kraken up 6-4 and 3:51 left on the clock Samuel Ersson headed to the bench to get the extra attacker on the ice. With just 2:50 left the Flyers called a time out and attempted to regroup. Continuous play kept Konecny trapped in the penalty box until there was just 24 seconds left. Time finally ran out on the western road trip with the Flyers taking three points and a goalie situation home with them.
