The Flyers made their way to Carolina on Saturday night to faceoff against the Hurricanes. Behind the benches it was Rick Tocchet verses Rod Brind’amore two very familiar names in the Philadelphia hockey community.
The Flyers faced the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers this past Thursday night. Although taking the loss Philadelphia did make the Panthers work for the 2-1 win in the low scoring season opener.
Philly vs Carolina
The Flyers really eased their way into this one. Carolina had the Flyers watching the game as the 1st period got underway. All eyes were on Samuel Ersson as he got his first start of the season in the Flyers net. Ersson was tested early and often as the Flyers kept getting bottled up in their own zone.
Ersson’s crease-mate Dan Vladar was the reason the Flyers were able to hang for the most part with the Panthers Thursday night. With Vladar putting together such a strong game this was a chance for Ersson to prove that he can do the same.
Quiet Sticks
The Flyers were reverting to desperation infractions in an attempt to slow Carolina down. This did just the opposite as the Flyers found themselves playing chunks of the opening period shorthanded. In fact they didn’t even register a shot on goal until there was just 8:41 left in the period. The “shot on goal” was a Nick Seeler shorthanded clear from his own goal line. The 1st shot on goal from inside the red line did not occur till 6:33.
PPG
The Flyers got their first power-play with 30 seconds left in the opening period. It took almost no time to capitalize on the opportunity. Travis Konecny fired a shot wide that went off the glass and came directly out front to Owen Tippett who dunked it past the glove of Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen with 21.9 seconds on the clock.
Trevor Zegras picked up the secondary assist giving him his first point as a Philadelphia Flyer. After being outshot 16-6 in the period the Flyers went into the 1st intermission leading the game 1-0.
Here we go
Things opened up right from the start of the 2nd period. Matvei Michkov hit Travis Konecny with a stretch pass springing him in all alone. Andersen just got a pad on the shot. Konecny, the Flyers top scorer three years running, has had a few golden opportunities over the past couple nights but has yet to finish.
Logan Stankhoven opened up the scoring for the Hurricanes taking a cross slot pass from Jackson Blake an burying it. It’s been pretty standard for a while now to see defensemen dive and slide through the passing lane an attempt to disrupt the pass. Anticipating that technique you notice more and more puck carriers being patient with the puck and allowing the defenseman to slide right past before completing the pass. That’s exactly what happened here.
Double Down
Immediately after the tying goal a Flyers breakdown lead to a 4-on-1 Carolina rush. Adam Ginning played the attempted cross slot pass perfectly catching just enough of the puck to direct it to his goaltender who hung onto it for the stoppage of play. Crisis averted.
Bobby Brink was shot out of a cannon from the beginning of the 2nd period. He was a ball of dangerous energy in the Carolina zone. He scored the go-ahead goal from the dot 6:18 into the 2nd. Grebenkin to Cates, Cates to Brink who fired a rocket of a rising wrist-shot off the top of Andersen’s glove and into the cookie jar.
The Flyers were much more of a presence throughout the middle period, creating chances and registering shots. Owen Tippett, Bobby Brink standing out offensively. Jett Luchanko looking more like himself, confident and crafty with the puck.
Unfortunately two unanswered Caroline goals by Talor Hall and Jordan Stall sent this game into the 3rd period with the Hurricanes in the lead 3-2.
Regulation
The ice was lopsided towards the Flyers end for the majority of the 3rd period. The Hurricanes attacked, attacked, attacked. Samuel Ersson was challenged and called on to make key saves over and over again.
After withstanding the onslaught for sixteen minutes Bobby Brink did all the hard work in the Hurricanes zone before finding Travis Sanheim all alone in the slot. Sanheim teed up a slap shot that beat Andersen top shelf tying the game at three. Sanheim has been a beast.
The Hurricanes controlled much of this game. They outshot the Flyers 39-24 during regulation but the score was tied at three as time ran out and this one was heading to overtime.
Nope
It was an exciting overtime period as the teams moved the puck from end to end in a fine display of skill and determination. With about a minute left things came together for the Flyers. Zegras enters the zone and makes the pass to Sanheim. Sanheim turns on the jets and makes the cut around the defenseman and fires the shot. Hurricanes netminder Frederik Anderson anticipated getting bowled over by Sanheim. (he wasn’t) Andersen extended his arm to push Sanheim away leaving the net wide open.
Bobby Brink fired the puck into the gaping net. As the Flyers celebrated Andersen argued and the play went to review. The goal was recalled for goaltender interference. Now you can call me out for having a bad case of the sour grapes but I truly am finding it difficult to see how that was a proper example of goaltender interference..
In my sour opinion Andersen clearly extended his arm towards Sanheim initiating the contact. He over anticipated the potential contact and that should be on him not on the player the goaltender thought was going to hit him. Call me a “homer” if you like. If that same goal was called back down the other end I would consider it a “freebie” and a lucky break.
Either way the goal was disallowed. Bobby Brink put the cherry on top of a game where he was the spark that kept reigniting his team. Play resumed, 17 seconds left in OT, Gostisbehere to Aho, Aho to Jarvis, Jarvis top shelf blocker side, good night.
The Flyers did get their first point of the season. So far they’ve lost two games by one goal to two very good ice hockey teams. It’s not the worst start in the world. Not by a long shot.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise
About Author
