Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
Samuel Ersson got the nod for the Flyers in net tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. Carter Hart was expected to start but did not play because of illness. Also back in the line-up for this game was Morgan Frost. The Flyers have been on a bit of a skid as of late and this win on the West Coast is just what they needed.
Flyers vs Ducks
The Flyers looked a bit out of sync with the pace of this game as it started. They were making clumsy disjointed looking entries and having trouble sustaining pressure in the Ducks end. To the contrary the Duck were firing pucks at Ersson who looked solid and consistent in turning shots away.
Shoot the puck
This 1st period was a good example that it doesn’t need to be the prettiest play in the world to make it to the scoreboard. Just get the puck towards the net with some traffic in front and see what happens. Sean Couturier was the first to get on the board. He picked up a rebound off of a Cam Atkinson shot. The puck dropped right at the side of the net and sat there wobbling waiting for Coots to tap it into the gaping net.
Cam Atkinson’s pants scored the second Flyers goal. Travis Sanheim fired the puck from the point the puck ticked off of Atkinson and past Anaheim goaltender Lukas Dostal. Atkinson was denied on a shorthanded breakaway in the final moment of the 1st. The Flyers were being outplayed but went into the 1st intermission up 2-0.
The Flyers were much more disciplined and concise to begin the 2nd period. Making smoother entries and maintaining some sustained pressure in the Ducks zone. Just 2:33 into the period Louis Belpedio scored his 2nd goal of the season. Joel Farabee skated the puck into the offensive zone and dished the puck off to Belpedio who beat Dostal high over the short side shoulder to extend the Flyers lead to 3-zip. The Flyers temporarily went up 4-0 but the puck was deemed to have been kicked in by Sean Walker and the goal was called back upon review.
Ersson continued to come up big. His positioning tonight was on point, keeping himself square to the shooter, and solidly answering the call when challenged.
Penalties, penalties, penallties
Leo Carlson finally got one passed Ersson on a power-play at 13:15. The puck seemed to change direction after hitting Travis Sanheim. Seconds later the Flyers found themselves short-handed again. And then yet again. They were able to kill these off but they really needed to get a grip on the penalties. The Flyers are currently the 5th most penalized team in the league. Philly looked energized the first half of the period then spent most of the 2nd down a man. The Ducks had several good chances to get back in this game. Ersson had already faced 30 shots going into the 3rd period.
Less than two minutes into the final period the Flyers found themselves short-handed again. Egor Zamula was called for delay of game after clearing the puck up and over the glass. None of these penalties were actually necessary, just momentary lapses in discipline. Ersson saved their bacon again this time with a marvelous point blank glove save as time ran out on the man advantage.
Flyers fire-power
Travis Sanheim scored a beautiful goal to make it 4-1 Flyers. Cutting in from the left circle, carrying the puck deep, then cutting back in front of the net and putting the puck farside passed the sprawling Ducks netminder. Sanheim has been logging monster minutes this season and tonight was no exception. He has been averaging almost 26 minutes per game.
Leo Carlson scored his second goal of the night making it 4-2 halfway through the 3rd. Minutes later Owen Tippett skated the puck into the Ducks zone. Down the left side, around the defenseman, and carried across the front of the net getting the goalie moving across and putting the puck farside to pad the Flyers lead at 5-2. The goal was a variation on Sanheim’s goal only minutes earlier.
With 3:23 left in regulation the Flyers took yet another penalty. The Ducks pulled their goaltender to face the Flyers six skaters against four. Leo Carlson completed the hat-trick on the power-play to make it 5-3. It took a bit of time to clear the ice after the goal since the give-away item at the game tonight was …free bucket hats.
All is well that ends well
Tippett hit the empty net with a minute left in the game and put the fire out. Our old friend Radko Gudas held onto the puck behind the Anaheim net as time ran out and the Flyers walked away with two points and a much needed win. The Ducks did not come out flat-footed tonight. The Flyers had to earn this win. The difference in this game was Sam Ersson, he made the big saves on a number of occasions and was the key to this victory.
Extra Credit: Not even going to talk about the Flyers power play, some other time perhaps, enjoy the win.
No mention about how Frost was penalized and generally felt he was a big reason the Flyers lost momentum.