Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
Flyers 29-20-7 faced the Blackhawks 15-38-3 in Chicago. If you’re just looking at their records you may accidentally underestimate the Blackhawks on a night like tonight. That is what a team like Chicago is counting on. The Flyers are holding onto a nice spot in the Metropolitan Division. You can’t get caught watching in a game like this and let the two points slip out of your grasp. It’s ice hockey and any team can surprise you on any given night. When we get to Spring and playoff positions are being earned by teams who are fighting for every point you realize how important these “dog days of winter” games truly are. The Blackhawks have only won 15 games before this contest. That could mean that they’ve faced at least 15 teams who were maybe caught counting on an easy night.
Philly vs Chicago
This game started out looking like a continuation of the Flyers loss to the Devils in the Winter Classic this past weekend. Philly was giving up odd man rushes and leaving it up to netminder Samuel Ersson to hold tight in the net. The Flyers were getting an opportunity to experience first hand what it feels like to play against a successful stretch game. They Flyers have made the stretch style part of their trademark. Tonight Chicago started out the contest by turning the tables on them. Ersson was facing one odd man rush after another. He made an unbelievable glove save against Taylor Raddysh to keep the Hawks off the board. Fun fact: Coming into this game Ersson had the same amount of wins as the Blackhawks so far this season.
Shoot the puck
Travis Sanheim opened up the scoring at 6:18 of the 1st period. Sometimes you just gotta throw the puck at the net and see what happens. Maybe it will hit the stick of an opposing player in mid air and change direction and totally catch their goalie by surprise. That is exactly what happened. The goal was preceded by Joel Farabee doing all the hard work up against the boards to keep the possession alive inside the Chicago zone.
Giving it right back
Unfortunately, like so many other times this year the Flyers sagged a bit right after scoring a goal and gave Colin Blackwell the opportunity to light the lamp behind the Philly net. It was a beautiful bit of skating by Blackwell who glided sideways towards the net past a sliding Jamey Drysdale and beating Ersson to tie the score. This is a habit the Flyers really gotta break.
Right after the goal Ersson was called on to stop Tyler Johnson on a breakaway. Next it was Connor Bedard stealing the puck and coming in on yet another odd man rush. Fortunately for the Flyers Bedard was at the end of his shift and looking a bit gassed and the play ended without a solid chance.
The Flyers reclaimed the lead 3:15 into the 2nd period when Travis Konecny scored his 27th goal of the season. Bedard and the Blackhawks skated on a rush into the Flyers end. Their pass was read and blocked and the puck went to Konecny who skated the length of the ice and beat Chicago goaltender Arvid Söderblom . It was a solid individual effort by Konecny who continues to be impressive in every aspect of his game.
The Flyers were looking much more like themselves as the game went on, settling things down, and taking advantage of their chances. Garnet Hathaway made it 3-1 at 11:55 into the 2nd. The Flyers outshot the Hawks 30-15 through the first two periods.
The follow through
The Flyers carried their 3-1 lead into the 3rd period and kept things pretty simple from then on out. They’re under no obligation to entertain Chicago’s home crowd. Protect the lead, stick to the fundamentals, and allow the clock to work in your favor. The Hawks stepped up the offense in the final five but Ersson was not giving anything away. With two minutes left Chicago pulled their goalie. Scott Laughton shot one off the side of the empty net, Chicago did their best, and Ersson held the door shut. The Flyers did exactly what they needed to in this one to win their 30th game of the season and walk away with the two points they came here to collect.
Next up: Flyers host the Rangers at the Farg 3:00 PM Saturday afternoon.
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Great article on a game I wasn’t able to see!