Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
There was a lot to like about this game, especially if you missed the end of it. As hockey players often say, way too often in fact, you gotta play all 60 minutes. The Flyers had a strong 50 minutes and spent the last ten looking like a team expecting to win playing against a team that wanted to win. Flyers fail to close fall to Utah in overtime 5-4.
The Flyers played the opening twenty minutes of this hockey game like they had left a ton of baggage on the ice in their 2-1 victory over the Golden Knights on Monday night. They had jump right out of the gate and they were doing their best to make sure that whatever happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas.
It was only 30 seconds into this match that Travis Konecny fed the puck to Travis Sanheim. Sanheim launched a one-timer, Karel Vejmelka made the save. Cam York picked up the rebound and wasted not time sending it home to give the Flyers the early lead.
The Flyers defense was slightly porous at times as things were settling in. Nick DeSimone was allowed to push his way in on the rush completely disregarding his coverage and forcing his way onto the doorstep with the puck. Samuel Ersson held tight and made the stop.
The Flyers struck again early. Just 4:36 into the game Travis Konecny sent a leading pass ahead to Christian Dvorak springing him in on a breakaway. Dvorak went to the backhand Vejmelka bit on the move. Dvorak switched to the forehand and curled around the goaltender and tucked the puck behind him. The Flyers held a two goal lead less than five minutes into the game. They bore little resemblance to the team that had dropped six straight before their trip to Vegas.
The Flyers outshot the Mammoth 14-7 in the first. Not only were they getting pucks to the net, they were adamant about getting rebound and secondary attempts. There was plenty of hustle. Matvei Michkov was a standout, moving the puck well, and notching 4 shots on goal in the opening period.
More of the same
The middle period opened up just like the first. Just under a minute in with the Flyers on the power-play Trevor Zegras fired a wrist-shot from the top of the slot. Bobby Brink picked up the rebound at the side of the net and dunked it. 3-0 Flyers.
This was starting to look like it might be an easy night.
Not so fast
The turning point of this game was questionable hit by Liam O’Brien on Owen Tippett. It was an open ice hit, it did not appear to be late, but it did look like it was possibly shoulder to head. Tippett went down and was eventually led up the tunnel. At first the hit was called as a five minute major triggering an automatic review. After review it was called no penalty and O’Brien was free to leave the box.
Everything changed after that. Utah was absolutely swarming in the Flyers zone for considerable chunks of time. Samuel Ersson was called on time and time again to make challenging saves as the Mammoth opened up a shooting gallery.
At one point after making a cluster of saves it appeared Ersson believed he had the puck tucked under him as he lay motionless at the side of the crease. He did not. Utah kept digging away and the puck wound up in the net.
Just 36 seconds later 6:11 into the period the Flyers were scrambling in their own zone. Lawson Crouse fired a one timer from the slot that beat Ersson and cut the Flyers lead to just a goal.
The Flyers used their time out. This proved to be a wise move by head coach Rick Tocchet as things did settle down a bit after the pause.
At 10:28 Christian Dvorak scored his 2nd goal of the game. It was also the Flyers second powerplay goal of the contest. Dvorak charged towards the net firing a shot, picking up his own rebound, and scoring the goal from an almost impossible angle at the goal line.
Owen Tippett returned to the bench towards the end of the period. Good news.
Captain Sean Couturier took a high stick to the face as time was running out. The Flyers started the 3rd period the same way they started the 2nd, with a two goal lead and a man advantage.
All 60 minutes
Karel Vejmelka made a ten bell glove save to rob Trevor Zegras. The 4th lines were really throwing the body around, finishing checks, and landing some beauties. Ersson continued to impress. Tippett hit a post after waiting out a slide by a Utah defenseman. McBain and Juulsen dropped the gloves. The top half of the 3rd period was chock full of thrills.
But then
The Mammoth pulled to within one on a Dylan Guenther power-play goal with 7:13 remaining in the third. Ersson never saw it coming. It was a shot through traffic from the top of the circle.
For a while the Flyers had Utah’s goalie trapped in the net with time winding down. Eventually with 1:42 left in regulation Utah got their goalie to the bench to skate the extra attacker.
Flyers fail to close
Garnet Hathaway appeared to have the game on his stick with no one between him and the empty net. He took too much time trying to get the puck to settle and was caught from behind. Nick Seeler had a shot at the empty net that was blocked. For some reason skating 5 against 6 with a one goal lead the urgency just did not seem to be there.
The Mammoth used their time out with 1:05 remaining. Konecny had a shot at the empty net blocked. The Flyers lost battles all the way up the boards. The puck was dumped back to Travis Sanheim to take pressure off. Sanheim was stripped of the puck.
With 35 seconds on the clock Clayton Keller forced his way to the front of the net and threw a backhander over Ersson’s glove to tie the game. It was the first extra attacker goal in Mammoth franchise history.
OT
The Flyers started the over time period with combination of York, Dvorak, and Zegras. These three players were on the ice for just under three minutes. Utah had possession and controlled the play for most of the overtime. The only option for Philadelphia was to ice the puck which kept their same three players trapped on the ice. Utah had changed lines twice during that time.
Finally the Flyers got the puck deep enough to get their change. As soon as they got fresh legs on the ice it was Keller again scoring on a snap shot from the slot that beat Ersson glove side.
The Flyers had control of this game 30 seconds in. They failed to keep it out of reach. It was a much better effort than we had seen from them during the losing streak. They had it, they just couldn’t keep it. There will be a few players tossing and turning all night after this one.
Next Up: The Flyers will be in Colorado to faceoff against the Avalanche 9:00 Friday night.
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