The Philadelphia Flyers took on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in game six of their seven-game homestand. Samuel Ersson returned to the net. Garnet Hathaway remained out with an upper-body injury and Rasmus Ristolainen is “banged up,” so he didn’t play. Egor Zamula drew into the lineup in his place. They’d snap their five-game losing streak with a four-to-three shoot-out win. Samuel Ersson had a nice bounce-back game, and Bobby Brink had a three-point night. The Flyers improve to 28-31-8 on the season.
The Lightning got the game’s first power play at the 6:47 mark of the first period as Ryan Poehling got called for delay of game (puck over glass). They capitalized on this opportunity as Gage Goncalves tipped in Yanni Gourde’s slap pass past the glove of Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson at the 8:29 mark. Gourde and Ryan McDonagh collected assists.
Bobby Brink tied the game up at one at the 14:20 mark of the first period. He received a nice cross-ice pass from Olle Lycksell off the rush and put a wrist shot short side on Lightning’s goaltender Jonas Johansson. Lycksell and Ryan Poehling tallied assists.
Zemgus Girgensons gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead just 15 seconds into the second period. Ersson made the initial save on Erik Cernak but allowed a rebound. Girgensons collected the rebound and put a wrist shot through the legs of Ersson. Cernak and Brandon Hagel were given assists.
Brink was called for tripping 30 seconds into the second period, which gave the Lightning their second power play. The Flyers did a nice job keeping them to the outside, and Ersson made a huge save on Oliver Bjorkstrand.
The Flyers got their first power play at the 4:12 mark of the second period as J.J. Moser was called for holding. They had a few good chances but couldn’t capitalize. Matvei Michkov shot the puck through a Noah Cates screen, and Johansson made the save.
The Lightning got their third power play at the 8:38 mark of the second period as Brink got called for hooking. The Flyers did a nice job clearing the puck when given the opportunity, and Ersson had to make a huge save on Brayden Point.
Brink tied the game up at two at the 10:55 mark of the second period. Sean Couturier made a pass to him in stride and Brink put a backhander over the blocker of Johansson. Couturier received the only assist.
The Flyers took a 3-2 lead at the 19:01 mark of the second period courtesy of Poehling. Brink passed the puck to Lycksell, who then passed to Poehling in front. Poehling outwaited Johansson and put a wrist shot past his left skate. Lycksell and Brink picked up assists.
Cam Atkinson tied the game up at three at the 3:50 mark of the third period. Victor Hedman made a one-touch pass to him and he put a snapshot past the glove of Ersson from the high slot. Hedman and Moser collected assists.
The Flyers got their second power play at the 10:54 mark of the third period as McDonagh was called for hooking. They yet again didn’t capitalize, but had several good chances. Michkov took a shot off a faceoff, and Couturier had a few good chances in tight.
Neither team would score before the end of regulation, so it would go to overtime. The Lightning controlled the puck for the majority of the time, and Ersson had to come up big multiple times. The Flyers had a few chances as well.
The game would then go to a shoot-out. The Flyers sent out Travis Konecny, Michkov, Brink, and Tippett. The Lightning sent out Jake Guentzel, Point, Hedman, Hagel, and Bjorkstrand. The Flyers would secure the victory as Michkov and Tippett scored and only Point for the Lightning.
The Flyers went zero for one on the power play and killed off two of three Lightning man advantages.
Ersson had to come up big multiple times to keep his team in it. He saved 17 of 20 shots, giving him a .850 save percentage.
Goal Summary
1st Period:
Goncalves (4) (Power Play) Assists: Gourde (13), McDonagh (19)
Brink (9) Assists: Lycksell (2), Poehling (12)
2nd Period:
Girgensons (2) Assists: Cernak (15), Hagel (42)
Brink (10) Assists: Couturier (22)
Poehling (5) Assists: Lycksell (3), Brink (22)
3rd Period:
Atkinson (4) Assists: Hedman (40), Moser (9)
Overtime:
None
Shoot Out:
Michkov, Tippett
Flyers Next Game
Flyers next game is Saturday, Mar 15, in Philadelphia against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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