Goaltender Dan Vladar returned to the Flyers net for the first time since January 14th. The Columbus Blue Jackets welcomed him back by scoring on their 1st shot of the game just 38 seconds into this match.
The Jackets had the Flyers trapped in their own zone from the opening faceoff. Finally Charlie Coyle alone in front beat Vladar to open the score sheet.
The Flyers did not put a shot on goal until almost six minutes later. Elvis Merzļikins totally robbed Matvei Michkov on a clean breakaway. Call the cops.
TK 1
Shortly thereafter at 9:03 Trevor Zegras doing all the hard work behind the Columbus net. Wins the battle and sends the puck to the point. Juulsen to York to Konecny. TK carried the puck across the slot and fired a wrister under the blocker of Merzļikins to tie the game at one.
The Flyers had a power-play in the final moments of the opening stanza. Trevor Zegras, who had a feisty first period, cut through everyone only to be neutered by the netminder after being hooked from behind. No call.
The Flyers kept pressure on. Zegras dinged one off the post. Everything was looking good then the Flyers got called for too many men on the ice.
Playing 4-on-4 Werenski blew through Tipppett in he Flyers zone and sent the puck across the slot to Kirill Marchenko who scored the goal with just 20 seconds left in the period. The Jackets were doing an effective job of keeping Vladar moving side to side.
Columbus padded their lead just 1:58 into the second period. Erik Gudbranson with a clapper from the point that seemed to totally elude Vladar far side. Like he never saw it coming.
The Flyers were creating some nice chances with persistence and rebounds but Elvis was on it.
The Gumper would be proud
This was at least the third time this season that we’ve seen Dan Vladar get his mask knocked off and still square up to a shooter. This time he hugged the post and sticked the shot aside before the whistle was blown. Old school dedication
The Flyers second power-play was all “close” and no “cigar”. Great chances by Zegras, Konecny, and Michkov. After the man advantage expired it was all Blue Jackets for the final moments of the middle period. Dan Vladar put on a show keeping the Jackets at bay.
Vladar opened the 3rd period by making a ten bell glove save on Adam Fantilli diving side to side to flash the leather. The play was reviewed for an extended period of time but the ruling on the ice stood. No goal.
The Flyers got a gift of a call and went on their third power-play of the game. Again good chances by Barkey and Michkov but nothing stuck.
TK 2
As soon as the man advantage was over Travis Konecny still limping from a blocked shot in the 2nd period scored his 2nd goal of the game to make it 3-2. It was almost a carbon copy of his 1st goal, this time going over the blocker from the slot.
The Flyers were totally in this game with 15:52 left to play, down by one goal, and Vladar looking settled in. The Flyers goaltender repeated his ten bell glove save this time against Boone Jenner.
The Flyers went on their 4th power-play with just under eight minutes to go in regulation. Again good chances, very agressive, nothing to show for it.
TK 3
Determination kept the Flyers plugging away at the talented goaltender in the Columbus net. Finally it was Travis to Travis. Sanheim with the pass across the slot to Konecny for the tap in at the side of the net. It was Konecny’s 3rd career hattrick that tied the game with 4:46 to go.
Konecny was still obviously in a lot of discomfort favoring his leg while carrying his team. It was Konecny’s two goal game in Vegas that snapped the six game losing streak. TK’s leads by example. He played a monster game tonight.
Unfortunately Columbus punched right back. Just over a minute later at 16:32 Sean Monahan beat Vladar with a wrist shot. And that proved to be the GWG.
In the final moments Dan Vladar was pulled for the extra attacker, the Flyers crumbled in their own zone, Bobby Brink made a fantastic save to keep hope alive. They broke down again, this time Mathieu Olivier put the puck in the open net. Final score 5-3.
For the second time this week the Flyers have lost to a comparable division rival pulling themselves further down the ranks. It’s way too early for these games to be considered “must wins” but in hindsight they may prove to hold much more weight than they were originally given.
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