Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Wells Fargo Center seems to be hosting more blue jerseys in the stands every time the Rangers come to town. It’s a sign of the times that speaks volumes. No one needs to take the blame for this loss tonight. Both teams came out a played one heck of a hockey game. Unfortunately the Rangers came away with the extra point defeating the Flyers in overtime by a score of 3-2.
The Flyers line-up tonight was a surprise to many who have been focused on the fast approaching NHL trade deadline. The Flyers suited up some players that many fans did not expect to still be in town at this late date. There is plenty of talk around Philly about the lack of action by the Flyers GM as other teams are making big moves in a flurry of last minute activity.
Flyers vs Rangers
The game started off with Scott Laughton being called for a slashing penalty for allowing his stick to touch the stick of a NY Ranger. The league is trying to protect players hands from injury with these types of calls. However when a player makes contact with another players stick while they are both in pursuit of the puck it should not be considered a slash. “But he knocked the stick out of his hand”. Hold onto your stick!
A full 16 seconds into the power play Mika Zibanejad put one past Carter Hart at 2:51 into the 1st period. It was a nice tic-tac-toe passing play and the Wells Fargo Center erupted in cheers. You could hear both Flyers and Rangers cheers going on in the stands all night. At least there was plenty of energy in the building. This was a great hockey game to watch, fast up and down play, both teams getting chances and both goalies standing up to the challenge.
Owen Tippet
The Flyers had two really underwhelming power-plays before Owen Tippett slammed one home from the slot on their 3rd man advantage. To say Tippet was a standout would not be saying enough. He was the driving force on his team tonight. His 18th goal of the season was recorded as unassisted although it was made possible by Elliot Desnoyers and Rasmus Ristolainen’s strong play behind the Rangers net. Desnoyers again looked confident and capable in his second NHL game.
Scott Laughton scored the only goal of the 2nd period. He brought the puck out from behind the goal line and quickly ran out of passing options. He pulled around to the front of the net and popped the puck up and over Igor Shesterkin’s shoulder from an odd angle. It was a great effort and a crafty move. It gave the Flyers a one goal lead which they rode into the 3rd period.
The Rangers kept coming on strong looking relentlessly for the tying goal. They had Carter Hart moving from side to side over and over again. However Hart’s positioning was key and he came up with some really big saves protecting the Flyers lead. At one point they had him dead to rights with an east west passing play. The net was wide open and the Rangers hit the post. The action was fast paced and full contact at both ends of the ice as New York tried every trick in the book to get something passed Hart. Sometimes the best plan is to just throw the puck at the net. Vladmir Tarasenko did just that at 10:33 in the 3rd period. Chris Kreider got a stick on it to deflect the puck past Hart to tie the game.
Overtime
The Flyers have not had much luck in overtime this season to put it mildly. In fact they were 1-9 going into this one tonight. The Rangers had possession of the puck for most of the overtime period. The Flyers could not get guys to the bench. Ivan Provorov was trapped on the ice for the first 2 minutes of OT. Tarasenko scored the winning goal at 2:32 ending the game. It didn’t look like a very dangerous shot from the circle. Hart seemed to get a piece of it but it had some real heat on it and found its way into the net. It was a well played game by both teams. Unfortunately it didn’t end the way the fans wearing orange and black would have liked.
Extra Credit: There are plenty of frustrated and very vocal Flyers Fans especially this week. Nothing could speak louder than our own arena being filled with the opposing team’s fans cheering their squad on to victory. …The Rangers fans are not the problem, they are just a side effect.
