The Philadelphia Flyers took on the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Saturday night at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. Dan Vladar got the start in net, and there were no changes to the lineup. They’d fail to sweep with a four-to-two loss. Resiliency played a role and helped keep them in the game a few times, but they just couldn’t tie or take a late lead. The series is now 3-1 in favor of the orange and black.
The Flyers got the game’s first power play at the 9:52 mark of the first period as Anthony Mantha was called for holding. No shots on goal were recorded, and they couldn’t stay set up in the offensive zone for very long. The Penguins were able to clear the puck down the ice a few times as well.
The Penguins got their first power play at the 14:19 mark of the first as Denver Barkey got called for high-sticking. It only took five seconds for Sidney Crosby to capitalize. He took a pass from Erik Karlsson and put a slapshot off the glove of Vladar and into the net. Karlsson received the lone assist.
Blake Lizotte was called for cross-checking at the 18:12 mark of the first period, which gave the Flyers their second power play. Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs made a few saves on Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale, but that’s about it. The Flyers couldn’t connect on a few passes, which allowed the Penguins to clear the puck down.
Rickard Rakell made it 2-0 for the Penguins just 1:03 into the second period. Vladar misplayed the puck behind the net, and Rakell put a wraparound backhander into a wide-open net. The goal was unassisted.
The Penguins received their second man advantage at the 1:59 mark of the second as Garnet Hathaway got called for tripping. The Flyers had a few chances while shorthanded, but Silovs made the saves. The Penguins had a few shots go just wide, and Vladar only ended up making one save on Karlsson.
The Flyers went on their third man advantage at the 5:31 mark of the second period as the Penguins got caught with too many men on the ice. Mantha served the penalty. Silovs came up with saves on Porter Martone and Drysdale, and the Penguins did a nice job of getting into shooting lanes to block shots.
Luke Glendening was called for cross-checking at the 12:48 mark of the second. This gave the Penguins their third power play. The Penguins didn’t record any shots on net, and Tyson Foerster had a chance while shorthanded, but Silovs made the huge pad save. The Flyers were also able to clear the puck down to waste time.
The Flyers got within one at the 15:40 mark of the second period courtesy of Barkey. He tipped in Trevor Zegras’ pass into a wide-open net in front. 2-1 Penguins. Zegras and Cam York tallied assists.
The game went to four-on-four at the 3:45 mark of the third period as Hathaway got called for elbowing and Karlsson for roughing. Silovs ended up making a save on Rasmus Ristolainen, and Kris Letang had a shot blocked. However, Letang gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead at the 4:27 mark. Crosby kicked the puck to Letang, who then put a slapshot past the glove of Vladar from the blue line. Crosby and Rakell picked up assists.
Travis Konecny got the Flyers within one at the 7:03 mark of the third. Christian Dvorak, from below the goal line, found Konecny at the right circle, and he put a snapshot over the glove of Silovs from the right circle. Dvorak and Travis Sanheim collected assists. 3-2 Penguins.
Vladar was pulled with 1:50 remaining in the third period in favor of the extra attacker with the Flyers down by one. It backfired, however, as Connor Dewar scored an empty-netter at the 19:03 mark. Foerster tried to keep the puck in the offensive zone but couldn’t. Dewar then took a pass from Lizotte and put a wrist shot into the empty net. Assists went to Lizotte and Noel Acciari.
The Flyers would pull Vladar again with 41 seconds remaining in the third, but couldn’t get any more pucks past Silovs. The Penguins held on for the four-to-two victory.
Flyers went zero for three on the power play and killed off two of the three Penguins’ man advantages.
Vladar saved 17 of 20 shots, giving him an .850 save percentage.
Goal Summary
1st Period:
Crosby (1) (Power Play) Assists: Karlsson (2)
2nd Period:
Rakell (1) Assists: none
Barkey (1) Assists: Zegras (3), York (1)
3rd Period:
Letang (1) Assists: Crosby (2), Rakell (3)
Konecny (1) Assists: Dvorak (3), Sanheim (1)
Dewar (1) (Empty Net) Assists: Lizotte (1), Acciari (1)
Flyers Next Game
Flyers next game is Monday, Apr. 27, in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.
About Author
