Photo Credits: Rob Windfelder
The Philadelphia Flyers played the final preseason game of 2024 at home against the Devils on Thursday night. The match-up was a unique situation where New Jersey did not have any of their opening night squad available for tonight’s game.
The Devils play their season opener in Prague against the Sabres so everyone who did not make the trip faced off against the Flyers tonight. The Flyers reciprocated by suiting a comparable roster featuring only a smattering of veterans. In the end it was a suitable tribute to the young players who have worked their tails off to remain with the team till the end of preseason play. It also was a very entertaining hockey game.
Philly vs New Jersey
Both of these teams showed up to play some hockey tonight. It was the last chance for most of these players to make a lasting impression on their respective organizations heading into the final round of cuts. It was not your typical preseason match. They played hard. Plenty of hitting and extra curricular activity.
Less than three minutes into the game Flyers forward Sawyer Boulton dropped the gloves with Samuel Laberge. The fight only lasted seconds but things were just getting started. Four minutes in the Flyers scored the first goal. Olle Lycksell who is giving it his very best shot to make the big club stuck with the puck digging away in front of the Devils net until the puck was behind Devils netminder Isaac Poulter. Oliver Bonk and Anthony Richard were credited with the assists.
The next players to square off were Hunter McDonald and Devils Nathan Legare. These teams were not just going through with the preseason motions. New Jersey managed to tie the score at one before the spirited 1st period came to an end. The Flyer held a huge shot advantage 12-4 but where it counts it was a tie game.
2nd Period
The Flyers went on the power-play eleven seconds into the period. Garnet Hathaway got stoned by Poulter with a fine glove save on a clean breakaway. JR Avon scored on that power-play. He put on a one man show cutting through two Devils before beating the goaltender short side. Bonk and Rodrigo Abols were credited with the assists.
At 16:46 there was a rematch between Boulton and Laberge. The officials piled a whole list of offensives onto Boulton’s sentence and New Jersey ended up with a man advantage. The Flyers successfully killed that penalty and went about their business. Ivan Fedotov started the game in the Flyers net. He was not super busy but he was solid. At 9:49 he made an impressive glove save and hung onto the puck for a stoppage of play. The Flyers used that opportunity to swap him out and give Aleksei Kolosov the second half of the game.
For one and a half periods Kolosov watched the action from the Flyers bench. He wore his mask the entire time. Apparently he likes to watch the game with his mask on. He stayed totally stretched out and ready to go at a second’s notice..
Kevin Lebanc scored on a knuckle baller from the high slot to tie the score at two. The Flyers returned the favor seconds later when Emil Andrae scored with just 1:08 left in the period. The Flyers went into the second intermission with a 3-2 lead.
3rd Period
Anthony Richard made it 4-2 with a power-play goal. He cranked a one timer from the circle. Andrae and Eric Johnson got the assists. Anthony Richard looked really good all night. He has had moments throughout the preseason where he has shown his determination on the ice. He has a great engine and can power through.
Kevin Lebanc again bought New Jersey to within a goal with 8:41 left in regulation. Unfortunately for the Devils they committed a too many men on the ice penalty with 1:55 left which negated their ability to pull the goaltender for the extra attacker. Noah Cates and Anthony Richard pulled off a beautiful passing play right in front of the Devils net before Cates went five hole for the goal. 5-3 Flyers.
With just ten seconds left Lebanc buried a slam dunk from the side of the net to complete his had trick. Final score Flyers 5 Devils 4. Up until the final seconds these young squads gave it everything they had and gave the fans a very entertaining hockey game.
Oliver Bonk had some really nice plays at both ends of the ice tonight. Another player who draws attention is Brendan Furry. He plays a very intense style that looks very at home in an orange and black uniform. All of these guys should be really proud of what they’ve accomplished. It is no easy task to stick with an NHL team all the way through the preseason games. It is a gigantic accomplishment.
