The Philadelphia Flyers played their 3rd game under interim coach Brad Shaw and beat the Nashville Predators by the score of 2-1. This was the Flyers third win in a row sweeping this current homestand. The Flyers have not had to go against a top tier team since settling into life after John Tortorella but in a season like this one you gotta take what you can get.
All of the scoring tonight took place during the middle period. The line of Sean Couturier, Matvei Michkov, and Travis Konecny has been an absolute blast to watch. TK and Michkov have a great chemistry and Coots seems to be revitalized by the residual energy. This line was enjoying a strong shift with a prolonged possession in the Nashville zone midway into the period.
The Predators finally managed to get the puck out of their own end but only momentarily. The Flyers needed a line change. Couturier was the only player to make it to the bench as Ryan Poehling hopped onto the ice to join the rush.
High in the slot Michkov pulled off some beautifully deceptive stick work before dishing the puck to Konecny at the side of the net. Konecny made a perfect cross-crease pass to Poehling who tapped it home to give the Flyers the one goal lead 8:50 into the 2nd period.
There were only two penalties called during the entire match. The Flyers had an unsuccessful power-play in the 1st and the Predators had their chance in the 2nd. The officials let this game fly for the most part. The penalty they did call against the Flyers was pretty odd. Travis Sanheim appeared to get totally mugged in the corner. He ended up flat on his back and getting penalized for it.
Give and Take
With 6:46 left in the 2nd period a loose puck on the Flyers doorstep got batted around until Zachary L’Heureux knocked it past Ivan Fedotov to tie the score at one.
Thirty-four seconds later dito down the other end. The puck was batted around the Nashville crease until Jamie Drysdale put it past Predators netminder Justus Annunen. Konecny and Michkov picked up the assists.
Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 of 29 Predator shots. He was really challenged a few times but managed to make the big saves when he needed to. Some of his biggest challenges were totally self inflicted. Fedotov likes to handle the puck. Tonight he mishandled the puck on a few separate occasions leaving himself scrambling to get back to his net in time to deal with the turnover.
The Predators outshot the Flyers 29-18. The Flyers sticks quieted a bit during this game after scoring a combined 13 goals in their last two games. Nashville was checking the Flyers pretty tightly and not allowing them a whole lot of space to work in.
Hold the Fort
There was no scoring or penalties during the final period. It was just a lot of the Predators trying to get the tying goal and the Flyers doing their best not to let that happen. Fedotov made several key saves including blanking Nick Blankenburg on a breakaway.
Nashville was putting on mega-pressure with their goaltender pulled in the final minutes of regulation. The Predators were suddenly relentless for the final two minutes of the game. The Flyers iced the puck twice just to pause the pressure for a bit. Pressure mounted all the way through the final seconds. Flyers Fans jumped to their feet and roared as the final horn sounded.
600
Garnet Hathaway returned to the line-up tonight after missing 15 games due to injury. He was blindsided while not having possession of the puck in a game last month against the Penguins. The hit earned a two minute minor for interference.
Hathaway is a work horse and fills a vital role in the Flyers line-up. He’s always willing to do the hard work in the dirty areas. He’s a strong presence on the ice and he’s one of the leagues most prolific checkers. Always looking out for his teammates and never taking guff from any opponent. Tonight Hathaway played his 600th NHL game.
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