Photo Credits FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers Blue Jackets game on Sunday evening had a little bit of something for everyone. The Flyers were on the second half of yet another back-to-back. Saturday they defeated the reigning Stanley Cup Champions in overtime. Coming back into the rink less than 24 hours later the Flyers looked no worse for the wear. Ever since losing to the bottom-feeder San Jose Sharks the Flyers have been on a tear. This was their 5th win in a row. Conversely the Columbus Blue Jackets came into this game having lost their last seven. But in this town that means nothing. Philly is the place where slumps go to die.
Flyers vs Blue Jackets
The Flyers came out with a ton of jump. As soon as the puck dropped they were putting on sustained pressure in the Columbus end. Just 5:11 into the match Joel Farabee took a pass from Cam York and backhanded the puck past Columbus goaltender Spencer Martin. The Flyers were controlling the better part of the play. Samuel Ersson was in the Philadelphia net and was solid when he needed to be.
With just over five minutes left in the 1st period Alexandre Texier ripped a wrist shot past Ersson from the top of the circle to tie the score at one. Seconds later Owen Tippett had a good shot at regaining the lead but thunked a hearty shot off the post.
Towards the end of the period a heavy weight bout broke out between Nick Deslauriers and Mathieu Olivier. The two squared off in the neutral zone and sized each other up for a bit. Once they got a hold of each other they exchanged multiple blows for a prolonged period of time. It just kept going. The officials were not getting in the middle of it and I don’t blame them. Finally they mutually cut it off. This being the City of Brotherly Love the fight ended with a cordial moment where the two kind of hugged and patted each other on the head. I believe they both earned a bit of respect for each other during the extended slugfest.
Special Teams
The Flyers scored a power-play goal just 1:11 into the 2nd period. Bobby Brink picked up his 4th goal of the season. The power-play has been an issue to say the least so it is good to see the Flyers making another one count after finally breaking their dry spell which had reached 0 for 27. Brink has really been a bright spot on the roster this year. He had been a healthy scratch recently and rejoined the line-up as Morgan Frost sat this one out.
Power-kill
The Blue Jackets stepped it up for a bit after Brink’s goal and for a stretch the play was so lopsided you ended up counting Flyers to make sure you didn’t miss a call. Ryan Poehling was putting in the hard work along the boards all night long. At 13:19 of the 2nd period while killing a penalty Poehling and Garnet Hathaway ended up on a 2 on 0 breakaway.
Poehling to Hathaway then back to Poehling who took the shot. Columbus netminder Spencer Martin threw both his legs back to Poehling’s side in an attempt to cover the bottom of the net. The puck slid under his first pad but did hit the second which eventually proved to be over the goal line. It was a very strange play. There was no whistle, no goal light, no signal from the referee, and no visible puck in sight. Ryan Poehling was the only one on the ice signaling a goal. After a lengthy review much to the approval of the hometown fans it was credited as a short-handed goal for the Flyers.
Provorov back in Philly
Before the end of the period Columbus scored a messy goal that was originally credited to former Flyer Ivan Provorov. It was later changed to Boone Jenner. It was really hard to tell what had happened. The Blue Jackets had the right idea. Get some traffic in front of the net and send the puck that way. There was a scramble in front. The puck made it through a pile of players and into the net. The period ended with the Flyers up by one.
Samuel Ersson
During the 3rd period the Flyers had a couple breakdowns that left Ersson facing shooters point blank but he was up to the task. At one point Sean Walker totally left the baby on the bus right in front of the Flyers net. Walker’s stick went over the puck as he skated away without it. A Columbus player was right there on the doorstep to pick it up and fire it. The fatigue of back-to-back games looked like it may be starting to take its toll but it was not enough to derail the Flyers.
Travis Konecny
Travis Konecny has to be one of the most annoying players to play against. Aside from all the chirping his skill and speed has to be really frustrating at times. He had a couple plays in the Columbus end that left the Blue Jackets looking like they were moving in slow motion in their attempts to contain him. At one point Konecny had the puck deep in the Columbus zone. He was looking for someone in front of the net to pass to. As no passing lanes were opening up he kept creeping further out from behind the net until finally he could attempt a sharp angle low percentage shot on his own. He lifted the puck squeezing it in short side for his 11th goal of the season.
When things are going your way
With two and a half minutes to go and the Columbus net empty Cam York had the puck behind the Flyers net. He was looking to wrap it around the boards to clear the zone to take the pressure off. The puck made it to the neutral zone then stood up on its end and continued rolling in a crooked path toward the Blue Jacket’s net. It was a night where things were just breaking the Flyers way. The puck made it all the way down the length of the ice and into the Columbus net. That was it for the visiting Blue Jackets. The Flyers Fans were loud and on their feet as time ran out with the home town hockey club winning their 5th straight game by the final score of 5-2. The Orange and Black are now 10-7-1 and full of surprises.
Next Up: Flyers at Islanders Wednesday November 22nd 7:30 PM
