Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers were in Toronto Monday night to faceoff against the Maple Leafs. Owen Tippett was playing on the top line due to the absence of Travis Konecny. It was a game-time decision for Konecny to rest with an “upper-body injury”. He is currently listed as “day-to-day”. Konecny is Philadelphia’s highest scorer with 23 goals and 34 assists.
Phillly vs Toronto
The Flyers were enjoying a bit of a tilt in the opening period. They had the Leafs back on their heels as they created numerous chances in the Toronto zone. The Flyers had an early power-play that accounted for four shots on goal.
A second man advantage that looked just as offensively aggressive as the first was cut in half by a “too many men on the ice” infraction. The ensuing 4-on-4 led to some wide open hockey at both ends of the ice. The Flyers were outshooting the Leafs 11-6 at this point.
Shortly after the penalties expired with 4:38 left in the period the Leafs won a battle against the boards and fed the puck to Dakota Joshua in the circle. Joshua fired the puck over the glove of Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar. It was a bullet.
Auston Matthews, who led all players with 8 shots on goal, rang one off the post and Trevor Zegras was tackled while skating the rebound into the Toronto zone. The Flyers scored on the ensuing power-play with 1:22 left in the period.
Christian Dvorak got control in front and was diligent about staying with it until the puck was finally behind Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz.
The Leafs looked like a different team in the second period. They had the Flyers locked out of their zone. Any intrusions were brief. Dan Vladar was called on to make a number of fine saves as Toronto got the better of the Flyers in the middle period.
The teams were still tied at one as the 3rd period got underway. Forty seconds into the period Rasmus Ristolainen went to the box for holding. It was either take the penalty or let William Nylander go in all alone on a breakaway.
Ristolainen was a noticeable all night. He was moving the puck well and led his team with five shots on goal.
Noah Cates hit the post with a shorthanded chance as the Flyers killed off the two minute minor. The Flyers penalty kill has been excellent as of late.
With 5:18 left in the 3rd period Noah Cates scored on what looked like a carbon copy of the Leafs first goal. Bobby Brink was doing all the hard work up against the boards. He skated away with the puck, fed it to Cates in the circle, and Cates fired it past Stolarz to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. This was Brink’s 200th NHL game.
Not so fast
The Flyers were looking to protect their one goal lead with the Leafs on a power-play. With just 2:30 left in regulation Dan Vladar failed to freeze a puck in the Flyers end. John Tavares fed a cross slot pass to William Nylander who teed up a slapper that beat Vladar high blocker side. It was the 1st power-play goal the Flyers had given up in 9 games.
Overtime
There were a couple close calls in overtime but no cigars. Vladar stoned Auston Matthews with a point blank glove save. Jamie Drysdale hit iron down the other end but this game was headed to the shootout.
Shootout
William Nylander opened the shootout by scoring high glove side. Matvei Michkov tied it up immediately. Michkov started out super slow then speeding up his hands and feet simultaneously leaving Stolarz scrambling.
Trevor Zegras flat out ripped a laser of a wrist shot past the Leafs netminder and Vladar stopped Max Domi for the win. Flyers take Leafs in the shootout 3-2. It was the Flyers 6th shootout win of the season.
Extra Credit: After winning their last three games the Flyers are now just four points below the cutoff line for the final wild card position. The Flyers host Utah this Thursday night at 7:00 PM. The NHL trade deadline is this Friday afternoon. Busy week.
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