Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers were right back on the road again Tuesday to faceoff against the Bruins in Boston. Less than 24 hours after losing to the Washington Capitals by the score of 5-2 the puck dropped at the Garden and it was go time once again.
Both squads featured plenty of prospects with veteran goaltending at either end. Flyers Dan Vladar vs Jeremy Swayman. Things got off to a slow start with both teams feeling each other out for quite some time. Neither team registered a shot on goal until almost four minutes into the contest. By the midway point of the 1st period Boston led the shot total 3-1.
Vladar Injured
Boston was doing a good job of maintaining possession in the Flyers end. However the Flyers were doing an equally good job of keeping them bottled up away from the dangerous areas. At 6:29 Dan Vladar misplayed a rebound and lost his stick reaching for the puck. Somewhere during this scramble Vladar was injured.
Without a stick he did not react to a shot that beat him glove side. He left the puck in the net and skated to the bench, spoke with a trainer, then headed up the tunnel. It is hard to explain how unwelcome this development is. (No further info was available on Vladar’s condition at the time of this writing)
The goal was credited to Michael Eyssimont on a deflection. Aleksei Kolosov took over in the Flyers net. The original plan was for Vladar to play the first 40 minutes.
The Flyers picked up their first power-play of the game with 4:17 left in the opening period. They created chances but could not finish. Very shortly after the man advantage expired Jacob Gaucher went coast to coast with the puck, cut around the defense, and beat Swayman in close to tie the game with 1:52 left in the period. After a slow start the Flyers took a 9-8 shot advantage into the intermission.
2nd Period
Kolosov was tested often at the start of the middle period. He looked sharp making several key saves. Just over seven minutes in a Bruins shot from the point hit a man in front catching Kolosov out of position and David Pastrnak with the puck at the side of the gaping wide open net. Pastrnak teed up a slapper that somehow hit the post.
Both teams were on the attack, creating good chances, and landing some solid checks. Jack Studnicka has been impressive again tonight and Luchanko can really fly when he turns on the jets. Holy cow.
3rd Period
The Flyers started the 3rd leading in SOGs 18-16. With the score tied at one both teams appeared very eager to take the lead. Cole Knuble had a couple nice chances hitting a crossbar with one of them.
The Bruins broke the tie on a power-play goal 5:19 into the third. Morgan Geekie deflected a Pastrnak shot that beat Kolosov. 2-1 Boston.
At 7:43 Frederic Brunet fired shot from the slot. Kolosov made the initial save but the rebound went right to Brian Halonen who fired it home. Suddenly it was starting to feel like Monday night all over again. 3-1 Bruins.
Boston was totally hogging the puck. The Flyers possessions were careless and short. Boston scored their 4th goal of the night on a nice passing play Zacha to Zadorov to Elias Lindholm at 4:49. 4-1 Bruins.
Again, I know, this is just the 2nd pre-season game and this is nowhere near the final line-up. But for the second night in a row the Flyers (with a different squad suited up) fell into the same pattern. When the going got tough they fell off their game plan and allowed the opposing team to run away with the score.
With just 1:13 left in regulation the Flyers were again bottled up in their own zone. A costly give away lead to the Bruins 4th goal of the 3rd period. A weak clearing attempt went right to Dans Locmelis who fed the pass to Michael Eyssimont who beat Kolosov high glove side. Final score 5-1 Boston.
The Flyers went into this 3rd period tied at one and when the tide started to shift their wheels came off and the whole thing broke down again. Kolosov who desperately needed a solid game in the Orange and Black was playing really well up until the dreaded 3rd period.
It’s one thing to get blown out two nights in a row, it’s another when the two games were so very similar. This is the time of year to work out all the bugs. The Flyers will get right back to work first thing tomorrow morning.
Next Up: Flyers Bruins rematch Thursday night in Philly.
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