Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
These two teams came into tonight’s game with almost identical records. You might think that would lead to a tight battle building in intensity until the final horn. Unfortunately that was not the case. The game itself was actually pretty cut and dry, better yet just flat out dry. There were some developments so let’s get right to it.
Philly vs Utah
Samuel Ersson got the start in the Flyers net tonight. It was his first game back after missing extended time with an injury. This was probably a good game for his return. He was not tested too often in fact he didn’t even face a shot until almost five minutes into the 1st period.
An early Flyers power-play found them reluctant to shoot the puck no matter how much the crowd requested they do so. They seemed content to move the puck around the edges. They were in the Utah zone almost the entire time and garnered one shot on goal.
Defenseman Jamie Drysdale made his long awaited return tonight as well. It did not take him long to get his timing back. One more thing of note, Travis Konecny who left yesterday’s contest against the Bruins for concussion protocol and then sat through the overtime did not miss any time in this game. He actually led the team in ice time tonight.
2nd Period
The 2nd period started off much like the 1st. The energy started to pick up a bit. The Flyers were buzzing but it was Utah who got on the board first. Michael Carcone put the puck in front of the Flyers net from the corner it hit Rasmus Ristolainen’s skate and went in.
Just 19 seconds later after Travis Konecny did a ton of hard work along the boards, Nick Seeler fired a shot from the circle. Jaxson Stauber appeared to make the initial stop but the puck squeezed behind him and dropped into the crease. Joel Farabee was there to put it where it belongs, in the net. The score was tied at one 7:20 into the 2nd. It was Farabee’s 1st goal in 13 games. He has been looking really solid lately. He is a well rounded pro who has not been able to find the finishing touch as of late.
At 9:42 Juuso Valimaki deflected a shot from the slot down and between the legs of Samuel Ersson to put the Club ahead 2-1.
At 13:34 Owen Tippett was cruising around the Utah zone with the puck looking for someone to give it to. Eventually he gave it to Nick Seeler who gave it right back to him. Tippett drilled it from the top of the circle past Stauber to tie the score at two.
At 14:21 Dylan Guether scored on a Utah power-play to retake the lead 3-2. He was right on the doorstep when he received a pass from the corner. It was a great looking play. He caught the pass on his forehand and continued towards the passer switching to the backhand as he traversed the crease. He had Ersson beat by a mile as he tucked it in.
The line of Frost, Tippett, and Michkov had a couple great shifts at the end of the period creating chances but unable to do anything about the score.
3rd Period
The Flyers came out buzzing in the 3rd period. Jamie Drysdale had a nice play in the Utah zone dancing through traffic from the blue line to the circle and firing a shot. Travis Konecny appeared to maybe tip the puck and tap the goalie as the puck went into the net. There was a coach’s challenge on the goal. Konecny artfully kept both his skates outside the crease as the puck sailed through.
There was an extended delay as the officials looked for TK’s microscopic contact with the goaltender until they finally found it and called the goal back because of goaltender interference.
Aside from the flurry of goals in the 2nd period this game was pretty uneventful. Nick Seeler had a really strong game at both ends of the ice. Michkov continued his point streak. He has 8 points in his last 4 games.
The Final Blow
The Flyers had a chance to even things up when they went on a power-play with 5:59 left in regulation. The Flyers were starting out of their own end. Jamie Drysdale drop passed the puck to Morgan Frost in front of the Flyers net. Morgan Frost totally left the baby on the bus. He casually skated right past the puck before taking control of it. Kevin Stenlund was right there to scoop it up and drill it passed Samuel Ersson for the insurance goal unassisted and shorthanded. 4-2
It was a horrible moment for Frost and his team. Accidents happen. This one was above and beyond. Good on John Tortorella for putting Frost right back out there for his next shift. Don’t let that one sit with him. Start working past that one immediately. It was a move that was as smart as it was kind.
The Flyers pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker to no avail. There was a dust up behind the Utah net as time was drawing to a close. Matvei Michkov got tossed from the game and to the delight of the crowd signed an autograph on the way up the tunnel.
The Flyers need to put this entire game behind them immediately, if not sooner. As long as the tone here is already sour, the 2nd game of a back-to-back can be a consideration but not an excuse. Back-to-backs pop up all throughout the season and teams roll with it. Teams will make it into the playoffs and run grueling schedules all the way into the summer. It’s all part of taking it to the next level.
Next Up: The Flyers are in Columbus to face the Blue Jackets Tuesday night at 7:00 PM
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