The scene was set for this game Sunday night in Toronto where the Leafs won a very close game in overtime. The Flyers gave them a real run for their money and it also was not the friendliest game. I’m sure it left both squads looking forward to tonight’s contest.
Philly vs Toronto
The Flyers really showed up for this game. It was their first time on home ice since before Christmas and they dug right in.
Less than two minutes in Matvei Michkov hooked Joseph Woll up with a short side surprise that brought the game to a stand still. Things were put on hold while the play was reviewed to see if the puck had breached the goal line. Michkov looked pretty sure that it had. The Leafs goaltender looked like he had no idea where it was. In the end it was ruled “no goal” and the game resumed.
Next on the card was Joel Farabee vs Connor Dewar. It was a full on square-up that went the duration. Both combatants really held their on and landed their share before they both went down with Farabee on top. The home town crowd was eating it up.
The ensuing faceoff saw Garnet Hathaway having an in depth conversation with Ryan Reeves. Instead of pursuing the possibility of another brawl the Flyers shifted their focus to offense. Travis Konecny created a nice chance for himself and took what may have been perceived as one too many whacks at the puck by Simon Benoit.
Again the Flyers stayed focused. Off the faceoff, with Hathaway screening, Sean Couturier sent the puck to Konecny at the top of the circle. TK fired through traffic putting the Flyers on the board 8:19 into the 1st period.
Welcome back
The next stoppage of play finally gave Joel Farabee an opportunity to leave the penalty box after serving his fighting major. The Flyers gave him a hero’s welcome banging their sticks on the boards as Farabee skated across the ice from the box to the bench.
The Leafs did not render a shot on goal until there was only 5:37 left in the opening period. Ivan Fedotov swallowed it up at the right post. Toronto would manage only one more shot on goal as time was winding down for a total of two for the entire 1st period. The Flyers logged a total of ten.
The 2nd period got off to a quirky start when goaltender Ivan Fedotov got “snowed” after making a routine stop. He immediately stopped to remove his mask and was attended to by a trainer flushing his eye. A small piece of debris or ice perhaps? The situation was handled pretty quickly and Fedotov remained in the game.
Seconds later at 1:19 John Tavares dinged one in off the far post to tie the game at one. After keeping the Leafs at bay convincingly throughout the 1st period suddenly things were opening up a bit.
The Flyers regained the lead 7:14 into the period. Noah Cates gained control of the puck in the Toronto zone and refused to let it go. He managed to hold on until he found Travis Konecny in front of the net all alone. Cates threaded the pass to Konecny who had the time and patience with the puck to make a move before putting a back-hander between Woll’s legs. It was Konecny’s 2nd goal of the night and his 20th of the season.
Give it back
As they all too often do after scoring, the Flyers allowed the Leafs to tie it back up just 41 seconds later. Auston Matthews sent a wobbling shot past Fedotov’s Blocker at 7:55 tying the game at two. So many times already this season the Flyers fight so hard for a clutch goal only to give it back seconds later. They’ve really got to figure out how to put a stop to that post goal sag.
The other thing that can bite you are goals at the end of a period. You gotta play till the horn. That’s exactly what Fedotov did stopping Steven Lorentz on a breakaway as time ran out in the 2nd period.
Scary moment
As the 3rd period was getting underway Scott Laughton and Matvei Michkov had a major helmet to helmet collision that left them both down and out. They lost sight of each other as they were moving the puck out of their own end and accidentally took each other out. The whistle blew as both players laid on the ice. Michkov was the first to get back on his feet afterwards as Laughton remained down until he was attended to by a trainer.
Initially Michkov returned to the bench as Laughton went up the tunnel. Moments later Michkov went back the locker room as well. Eventually they both returned to the bench and remained in the game.
Halfway through the final period with both teams looking for the go-ahead goal Fedotov made a cluster of key saves as things were getting serious. Both teams were focused and deliberate. Unfortunately it was Toronto who broke the tie. Matthew Knies deflected a shot past Fedotov with 6:39 left in regulation. A strong showing of Leafs fans could be heard cheering “go Leafs go” which was followed by a chorus of boos and some loud conversations throughout the arena.
The Flyers continued to play a strong game. As time was getting short they pulled the goalie, had a few chances, but couldn’t find the tying goal. It was a hard-fought game where the Flyers outshot their superior opponent 32-17. The Flyers outshot the Leafs 32-25 on Sunday and lost both games of the home-and-home series by just a single goal.
A reminder, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in 1st place in the Atlantic Division with a 27-13-2 record. It is not a participation trophy to give the Flyers credit for their efforts in these last two games, they deserve it.
Next up: The Flyers are right back at it Thursday night when they host the Dallas Stars at 7:00 PM
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