Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
This was the final Flyers game before the NHL goes dark for the Olympic break. It was also an uneventful hockey game between two uninspired teams going through the motions before departing on a three week hiatus.
The Flyers honored the players from the organization who will be participating with a ceremony before the opening faceoff.
Giroux
Will it ever not be a big deal when Claude Giroux comes to town? …No it will always be a big deal. Half the arena is still wearing his jersey to games on a regular basis. Eventually the time will come when Claude takes center stage once again to be honored for his time here in Philadelphia as his playing career draws to an end. The place will go wild with appreciation and deservedly so.
Philly vs Ottawa
The Senators started James Reimer in the net and had no one on the bench to back him up. It was his game for the duration good, bad, or indifferent. You would think in this situation the Flyers would be throwing pucks his way with reckless abandon. The Flyers got their 1st shot on goal with 4:24 remaining in the opening period.
They peppered Reimer with a total of 16 shots over three periods and the overtime. Flyers goalie Dan Vladar stopped 20 of 27 Ottawa shots.
It was another former Flyer none other than Nick Cousins who picked up a rebound on the doorstep and fired the puck past Vladar 10:05 into the second period.
Both teams shared a similar lack of intensity throughout the game. Lining up checks but not following through. Just being honest, it was similar to watching a pre-season matchup.
The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Senators until Jamie Drysdale squeezed a shot from the top of the circle through a tiny sliver of daylight short-side. This took place with Vladar pulled for the extra attacker and 1:14 left in regulation.
OT
The overtime lasted all of forty seven seconds. Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak broke into the Senators zone on a 2-on-1 rush. Konecny fired a shot wide of the net the puck wrapped around the boards and play quickly headed in the other direction.
It was now the Senators on a 2-on-1 break. Tim Stützle entered the Flyers zone on a mission. He held onto the puck and blew past Travis Sanheim with pure determination. He opened a gap going in on Dan Vladar. Forehand, backhand, Olympic break.
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