Date Published: 12-8-2022
Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder (Flyers forward Zachary Wertz and Goaltender Felix Sandström)
As in many of the Flyers losses so far this season the final score does not properly represent the game that actually took place. The Flyers lost to the Washington Capitals by the score of 4-1 Wednesday night in Philadelphia. If that is all you had to work with your best guess might be that the Flyers had a bad night and got totally outplayed …and that would be wrong. The Flyers tallied more shots on goal, delivered more hits, and blocked more shots than the Capitals. Up until 9:19 of the 3rd period the score was tied at 1. The Flyers had another solid outing but could not get it over the finish line.
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The Caps took a one goal lead late in the game and then added 2 more into the empty net with Carter Hart watching from the bench. It is a very familiar storyline at this point, the Flyers were still in the game down to the wire and things just didn’t break their way in the final moments. Hopefully as the roster fills back in the team can string a few wins together and start to get some confidence back. These losses can start to feel like self fulfilling prophecy. The crowd started heading towards the exits with 6 minutes left in a 2-1 game where the Flyers were ahead in almost every measure of how the game was going. There was no energy left in the room as the game finally just fell apart and crumbled into the loss column. It was almost surreal. Maybe a few games on the road will give everyone a chance to clear their head.
Some bright spots: James Van Riemsdyk returned to the line-up after missing 20 games with a hand injury that required surgery. Kevin Hayes scored the Flyers only goal with an assist from Travis Konecny keeping them both ahead of a 1 point per game pace. The team’s roster is filling back in as the injured list slowly gets shorter.
Unfortunately, some not so bright spots: The Flyers had a few indiscretions that they did not end up paying the price for but boy were they lucky. An issue that almost burned them on a couple occasions was blind back-passes during the power play. Washington was onto it and waiting for them. At one point a behind the back pass went right onto the stick of a Cap who nearly turned it into a shorthanded breakaway. I am sure the Flyers are going to have a real fun time watching “films” of those missteps with Coach John Tortorella this week.
The Flyers were in this game up until the final minutes and once again resorted to pulling the goalie in exchange for getting the extra attacker on the ice. Obviously this move makes puck possession a top priority. Right? Sometimes it is really hard to find the wisdom in dumping the puck into the corner to see who comes up with it in that situation. You have the man advantage at that point theoretically somebody should always be open. Tonight with the goalie pulled the only guy who seemed to always be open was Alexander Ovechkin. He scored both of Washington’s empty net goals.
It was a tough night, better days ahead. Late night game Friday in Vegas!
It would be nice if somebody on the Flyers went after the puck like Ovechkin did once the goalie was pulled.