Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers were coming off of a big win against the Florida Panthers Monday night in Philly. They traveled to Columbus for the second half of their back to back against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. They are already on their way to New York to face the Islanders on Thursday. It has been a very busy schedule for the team since the short Christmas break. The grind has included a road trip out west and a home stand that saw them playing every other night leading up to tonight’s game in Columbus.
The Blue Jackets and the Flyers are two very evenly matched teams. Their records are very similar and this game reflected that. Much of tonight’s game was spent playing tight, mucking, grinding, scoreless hockey. Bobby Brink scored early in the first period. Zach Werenski scored in the middle of the second. Owen Tippett and Werenski scored in the third.
Flyers head coach John Tortorella was just talking about Brink playing well but needing to score after Monday night’s win. Brink has been playing some great hockey but managed to go twenty games without lighting the lamp. Nick Seeler hit him with a cross ice pass right in front and Brink smacked it behind Columbus goaltender Daniil Tarasov.
Owen Tippett scored from high in the slot on a rush where he actually had support if he needed it. Not sure why but it has definitely been a thing lately when Tippett enters the zone with the puck he is always going in alone against two or three defenders.
He has come up with some pretty creative moves attempting to go through walls of opponents with no other options in sight. Tonight Morgan Frost joined the rush offering a distraction and another possible option and Tippett freely ripped it home from the slot.
Ivan Fedotov
The Flyers goaltending situation has been in flux since the middle of last season. Everyone knows it’s not ideal but would still like to see it stabilize into something we can get used to and deal with. Samuel Ersson started this season as the clear starter but has been in and out of the line-up with injuries.
The Flyers have been rolling with three goalies on the roster which may have started as a proving ground but has often turned into a necessity. When Ersson returned from the first extended injury Aleksei Kolosov seemed locked into the backup position and Ivan Fedotov went for weeks without seeing any ice time at all.
It’s believed that Kolosov is young and in need of development but his ceiling may be higher than Fedotov’s, …eventually. Fedotov who has a proven record of success in the KHL has not yet shown that he can transition that game to the NHL. So where do things stand?
After tonight’s performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets you would have to admit that Fedotov’s star is rising. Goalies run hot and cold and anyone who claims they can predict that trend is totally blowing smoke. This is not a prediction but an observation.
Fedotov held his own against the mighty Maple Leafs last week and he was the reason the Flyers went to the shootout against the Blue Jackets tonight. Fedotov came up huge for his team in Columbus.
The Flyers were not mistake free against the Blue Jackets and Fedotov was called on to make key saves over and over again. There were a number of missteps that led to odd man rushes. Damon Severson was itching for a goal all night long Fedotov stopped all five of his shots on goal. Including a fantastic stop in the final seconds of regulation.
In the overtime Matvei Michkov lost a battle for the puck and the race to the net against Zach Werenski. Werenski who was looking for the hattrick skated in alone with the puck. Fedotov saved everyone’s bacon with a huge stop.
The Flyers went on to lose this one in the shootout but Ivan Fedotov was the reason the Flyers skated away with a point.
