The Philadelphia Flyers closed out their three-game West Coast trip Saturday afternoon as they took on Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks at SAP Arena. Dan Vladar got the start in net. They stayed with 11 forwards and seven defensemen as Sean Couturier, Denver Barkey, and Luke Glendening remained out with injuries. The Flyers would sweep the West Coast trip with a four-one victory. They’d score the first goal plus three more in the third, and Vladar stood his ground in net to seal the deal. The orange and black improved to 34-23-12 on the season.
Ryan Reaves and Garrett Wilson dropped the gloves just 1:48 into the game. It wasn’t much of a fight, but it was a good-spirited one to get the matinee started. Both players got five minutes each for fighting.
The Flyers got the game’s first power play at the 5:09 mark of the first period as Collin Graf was called for holding. They recorded three shots on net, including a deflection try by Travis Konecny that just missed. They’re still trying to look for the perfect pass instead of shooting the puck.
The Sharks went on their first power play at the 10:18 mark of the first as Trevor Zegras was called for kneeing. The Flyers did a great job of breaking up passes, stripping players of pucks, and clearing down the ice. Owen Tippett had a chance while shorthanded but missed wide.
The Flyers got caught with too many men on the ice at the 15:40 mark of the first period, which gave the Sharks their second power play. Matvei Michkov served the penalty. They didn’t record any shots on net, and the Flyers were able to clear the puck down a few times. An active stick by Nick Seeler helped out as well.
Tippett gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at the 2:26 mark of the second period. He took a pass from Zegras, got around Nick Leddy, and put a wrist shot past the glove of Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. Zegras and Noah Juulsen tallied assists.
Philipp Kurashev was called for hooking at the 5:02 mark of the second. This gave the Flyers their second power play. Noah Cates had a shot blocked in the slot, and Nedeljkovic made a big save as multiple Flyers jabbed away at the puck.
The Sharks got their third power play at the 12:19 mark of the second period as Emil Andrae got called for delay of game (puck over glass). They’d capitalize courtesy of Dmitry Orlov. William Eklund, from the side of the net, found Orlov in the slot, and he put a wrist shot over the glove of Vladar. This tied the game up at one. Eklund and Celebrini picked up assists.
The Flyers went on their third power play at the 16:17 mark of the second as Eklund was called for holding. They had a few chances in tight, and Nedeljkovic made a save with his mask on a shot by Cates. During the power play, Cates and Barclay Goodrow dropped the gloves. This happened after Goodrow delivered a big hit on Zegras. Both players got five minutes each for fighting. The Flyers stayed on the power play as a result.
Mario Ferraro got called for roughing just 1:14 into the third period, which gave the Flyers their fourth power play. They’d capitalize thanks to Christian Dvorak. Konecny, from the left circle, passed the puck to Dvorak, who was at the right circle, and he put a wrist shot past the blocker of Nedeljkovic. 2-1 Flyers. Konecny and Michkov were given assists.
The Sharks got their fourth man advantage at the 4:56 mark of the third as Zegras was called for tripping. They had the puck in the offensive zone the entire time after a failed clear by Cam York. Vladar ended up making a handful of saves to keep the Flyers in front.
Celebrini got called for slashing at the 7:40 mark of the third period. This gave the Flyers their fifth power play. Michkov and Alex Bump missed on shots just wide, but no shots on net were recorded. Too much passing yet again.
Nedeljkovic was pulled with 1:57 remaining in the third in favor of the extra attacker with the Sharks down by one. It backfired, however, as Travis Sanheim scored an empty-netter at the 18:48 mark. Celebrini turned the puck over to Sanheim, and he put a wrist shot into the empty net from his own zone. The goal was unassisted. This made the score 3-1 Flyers.
Cates made it 4-1 Flyers at the 19:24 mark as he scored an empty-netter of his own as Nedeljkovic was pulled again. He took a pass from Dvorak and put a wrist shot into the empty net from the Sharks blue line. Dvorak received the lone assist.
Flyers went one for five on the power play and killed off three of the four Sharks’ man-advantages.
Vladar saved 24 of 25 shots, giving him a .960 save percentage.
Goal Summary
1st Period:
No goals
2nd Period:
Tippett (24) Assists: Zegras (33), Juulsen (9)
Orlov (3) (Power Play) Assists: Eklund (30), Celebrini (61)
3rd Period:
Dvorak (14) (Power Play) Assists: Konecny (35), Michkov (21)
Sanheim (8) (Empty Net) Assists: none
Cates (15) (Empty Net) Assists: Dvorak (27)
Flyers Next Game
Flyers next game is Tuesday, Mar. 24, in Philadelphia against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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