Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
Before we even get started I have to say it brings me no joy to describe what happened in this game. I feel like I’m kicking a guy when he’s down, but my loyalty has to lie with you the Nitty Gritty reader. It is my duty to tell it like it is to the best of my ability. …We got trouble.
There is no way to sugar coat it. The Flyers lost this very winnable game because of the unfocused performance of Felix Sandstrom. It can be considered a cheap shot to throw too much responsibility on the shoulders of a single player but that is just the reality of what went down. Sandstrom has played some solid games, this wasn’t one of them.
Where things stand
The Flyers have given themselves a bit of a cushion in the standings between themselves and the New York Islanders. Unfortunately the Washington Capitals have been filling in the gap and after defeating the Winnipeg Jets Sunday afternoon they sit just two points behind the Flyers for 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division with one game in hand. Every point matters especially at this time of year. The Panthers are tied with the Bruins for 1st place in the Atlantic with 97 points. This was the 2nd game of a back-to-back, the Flyers defeated Boston Saturday Afternoon. Two 1st place teams in two days? That’s quite a tall order.
Philly vs Florida
The Flyers came out with good energy and were really doing a fine job containing Florida’s potent offense. The home team was making it difficult for the Panthers to enter the offensive zone cleanly. When they did enter their puck possessions were brief. The Flyers defense was on point and effective. All throughout the game Florida was limited in the scope of their attack. There were not many odd man rushes or a lot of puck movement around the Flyers net. In fact the Flyers outshot the Panthers in this game 33-15.
When there were disconnects between the Orange and Black the indiscretions were rectified quickly. The Flyers were covering for each other. They were playing as a unit. It was impressive to see the Flyers so adeptly neutralizing such a high caliber opponent.
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All that being said the Panthers took the 1-0 lead at 10:34 of the 1st period. Sam Reinhart fired a wrist shot from the hash marks that hit Sandstrom yet somehow found it’s way into the net. It was Florida’s 2nd shot on goal.
Target on T.K.
Possibly it was frustration, or maybe it was part of the game plan but the Panthers started taking runs at Travis Konecny. Not clean hits either. At 14:35 of the 1st period Oliver Ekman-Larsson crumpled Konecny right in front of the Flyers bench. Konecny was not in possession of the puck, Ekman was given an interference penalty.
The ensuing Flyers power-play was a bit flat. But as soon as the Panthers were back at even strength the Flyers had a number of chances. At 17:46 Ryan Lomberg took a roughing penalty also against Konecny. TK was showing restraint and not getting into retaliation but the whole thing boiled over along the side boards as time ran out in the opening period.
Philadelphia started the 2nd period shorthanded and Florida scored on the power-play less than one minute in. Vladimir Tarasenko fired a wrist shot from almost the identical spot as the first Panthers goal at the hash marks on the right hand side. Sandstrom appeared to watch with little reaction as the puck went by him.
Sandstrom was just off. His lack of rebound control was throwing big fat rebounds right into the slot all night. At one point he made a fantastic toe save on Sam Bennett but left the rebound and could not recover his positioning. It was mayhem at times in front of the Flyers net. Later in the period during a similar situation Cam York jumped in to make an amazing save on Sam Reinhart.
Credit where credit is due
At the other end of the ice former Flyer Anthony Stolarz was having a very good night. He stoned Scott Laughton all alone in front. Moments later he turned aside a great chance in close from Sean Couturier. Coots looked energized and really stood out in this contest. The Flyers outshot the Panthers through the first two periods but Stolarz was getting the job done. Sandstrom was not.
3rd Period
The Flyers came out buzzing at the start of the final period. This game was in no way out of reach. The Flyers had the better of the play the entire game and now they were going into the 3rd down 2-0 with twenty minutes left to catch up. They continued to control the game. They outshot the Panthers in the 3rd period 17-4. At one point early on they had 6 shots on goal during a single possession in the Florida zone.
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Right after that cluster of chances the puck made its way down to the Flyers end. Carter Verhaeghe skated into the Flyers zone. He took a snap shot from the circle that hit Sandstom in the glove and then wobbled its way into the net. That goal was an absolute back breaker. It was now 3-0 with over 15 minutes left in the game. The Flyers were successfully keeping the Panthers from creating dangerous chances but it didn’t matter. It was futile.
Flyers head coach John Tortorella pulled Sandstrom for the extra attacker during a power-play with over seven minutes left on the clock. Egor Zamula moved the puck to Ryan Poehling at the side of the Florida net. Poehling threaded a pass cross ice through traffic to Bobby Brink who put the Flyers on the board with 7:06 left to play.
At 18:48 with the goalie again pulled Sam Reinhart scored his 50th goal of the year. He got away with celebrating a little too much. Sure it was his 50th but he smacked it into the open net and then indulged himself in a level celebration that would on most occasions earn you a face full of glove.
So the Flyers lost 4-1 after outplaying one of the top teams in the league, doubling their shot total. The Flyers offense was clicking, but Anthony Stolarz played a fine game in the Florida net. The Flyers defense had Florida struggling to find dangerous chances.
This game shouldn’t give you much reason to worry about the Flyers. As a team they played a very solid game. On the other hand this game will give you reasons to worry about the goaltending situation. Samuel Ersson is going to have to be prepared for an “old time hockey” goalie schedule if this team can stay in the running.
