Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
It was eight years to the day since the Flyers last hosted a playoff game. The home ice arena was a sea of orange, AC-DC blasting on the PA, and chants of “let’s go Flyers” proceeded Lauren Hart singing a rousing rendition of God Bless America. Stanley Cup Playoff hocked has finally returned to the city of Philadelphia. Where it belongs.
This was Game 3 of the best of seven 1st round series. The Flyers came in leading the series 2 games to none after winning both games in Pittsburgh. Teams have come back from 3-0 defecates in the past, but not very often. The Penguins came to Philly to fight for their lives.
Philly vs Pittsburgh
The Flyers 4th line of Sean Couturier, Garnet Hathaway, and Luke Glendening came out to take the opening faceoff against the Penguins top line centered by Sidney Crosby. This has been the match-up all series so far. The Flyers 4th line has been excellent and tonight was no exception.
Tempers flared right out of the gate. The Flyers were swarming around the Penguins net. Konecny, Martone, and Dvorak in close plugging away. The ref lost sight of the puck. It was clearly loose by the side of the net. The whistle was blown, Malkin had his hands all over Martone’s face, and everything started to boil over. In other words things picked up right where they had left off in Game 2.
First Blood
The Penguins got on the board first with a power-play goal, their first of the series. Tic-tac-toe. Crosby, Rust, Malkin from the side of the net 4:18 into the game. The secondary assist was Crosby’s first point of the series.
It took the Flyers a little bit of time to settle into their game. They were a bit out of synch, nothing major. Jitters perhaps, maybe it took a bit to get used to the excitement in the building. Getting used to being loved instead of hated.
The dive heard round the world
With 1:13 left in the opening period the teams were lining up for a faceoff in the Penguins end. Garnet Hathaway was skating by Sidney Crosby adjusting his stick. The blade of his stick made incidental contact with Crosby’s helmet or shield. Crosby dropped to the ice and remained there lifeless.
Hathaway in total disbelief was given two minutes for high-sticking. Crosby was given his first ever embellishment penalty. He somehow made it to the penalty box without assistance.
You’re gonna need a bigger box
The second period started marred by penalties. First it was 4-on-4 to start. Things were plenty chippy from the get go. It went from even strength back to 4-on-4. Then we even saw a 4-on-3 Flyers power-play. All of this came and went having zero effect on the scoreboard.
Eventually the game got back to traditional 5-on-5 hockey but not for long. Travis konecny was robbed with a fine stop by Stuart Skinner. TK did not make contact with the goaltender but Rust tackled him to the ice anyway. Rust continued to attack while Konecny was down and the ref jumped in to lend a hand by keeping the Flyer from protecting himself.
This set off a chain reaction that ended with every single player on the ice going to the penalty box. There was a long delay and discussions with both coaches. Rust was the only player given a double minor thus giving the Flyers a two minute power-play. There were five players crammed in the Flyers penalty box, six in the Penguins.
Turning Point
With the Flyers on the power-play Porter Martone passed the puck to Jamie Drysdale. Drysdale sent the pass to Zegras who teed up a one timer from the right faceoff dot to tie the game 5:18 into the second period. During the celebration Zegras pounded on the glass of the jam packed Flyers penalty box on the way by. That has been the exact shot Zegras ends every pre-game warm-up with all season long.
Garnet Hathaway made a nice play to keep the puck in the offensive zone while heading off for a line change he was just about on the bench when Rasmus Ristolainen scored the go-ahead goal. Risto fired a wrist shot from the same dot as Zegras beating Skinner under the pads between the legs. The assists went to Juulsen and Couturier.
Moments later Nick Seeler fired a beautiful wrist shot from the point that beat Skinner high glove side to give the Flyers a 3-1 advantage. Juulsen and Couturier picked up the assists on this goal as well.
The sold out arena was at max volume with the crowd chanting the Pittsburgh goaltender’s last name in mocking fashion. The game slowed considerably at this point. The Penguins antics had long grown tiresome. Pucks were locking up against the boards with lots of chopping and players taking turns going to the penalty box.
The Penguins had a nice offensive surge at the end of the second period. They were on the attack. Dan Vladar and his defensive core held the Penguins at bay. The Flyers once again were finishing checks and defending their net while outscoring the Penguins. The system was back in place.
Dan Vladar
Some scary moments at the start of the 3rd period. Flyers MVP goaltender Dan Vladar got his skate blade knocked off with a shot. He recovered to make a second kick save but was not anchored in and extended himself. Without the metal blade the plastic holder has no friction on the ice. A trainer came out to speak with him and he stayed in the game.
Moments later Bryan Rust charged the net and bowled over the Flyers netminder. Rust’s knee knocked the blocker off as his weight came down on Vladar’s right arm at the joint. The trainer returned to the ice. The discussion was longer this time. Vladar was obviously experiencing discomfort. Again he chose to stay in the game.
At 10:21 Pittsburgh scored again on the power-play. Karlsson fired a slapshot that beat Vladar on that blocker side to bring the Penguins within a goal. 3-2.
With 7:30 left in regulation the Flyers scored another power-play goal of their own. Stuart Skinner had just totally robbed Noah Cates with a glove save on a breakaway. On the same shift Trevor Zegras threaded a perfect pass to Cates right in front of the net. Cates took the pass, shifted to his forehand, and tucked the puck into the far side of the net. The Flyers went 2-for-3 with the man advantage in this game.
The Penguins had their final power-play opportunity with 6:32 left in regulation and the Flyers still up by two goals. There was a faceoff in the Flyers end. The crowd was boisterously cheering “let’s go Flyers”. There was a slight delay as an on ice official escorted Sidney Crosby to his bench. He wanted a fresh pair of gloves for the faceoff. …I wish I was kidding, I am not.
The Penguins pulled their goalie with three minutes remaining. Owen Tippett made a nice steal at his own blue line tipping the puck ahead and then winning the foot-race to retrieve it and put it into the open net. Final score 5-2 Flyers.
Tippett has been the definition of a power-forward in this series. He had 11 hits in this game alone. He’s been a speedy, hard hitting , offensive powerhouse.
As time was running out the capacity crowd at the Xfinity Mobile Arena rose to it’s feet. The noise swelled into a roar of appreciation. The Flyers have the Pittsburgh Penguins just one loss away from elimination.
Extra Credit: Just weeks ago it was commonplace for people say. “If the Flyers do somehow make it to the playoffs, even if they get swept, it will be good for them to get the experience”.
This group of players who never stopped believing in each other have taken this thing to a totally different level in this series. There are times when I don’t even recognize them. It’s been beyond impressive.
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