Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers defeated the Minnesota Wild by the score of 5-4 in a shootout. This was a very entertaining hockey game that had something for everyone. Even a Minnesota fan would have enjoyed it. Except for the shootout part which was awesome for a Flyers fans that is.
In the zone
It took the Flyers a few minutes to get into this game. Minnesota was racking up the chances while the Flyers were settling in . Once settled they looked very effective. They were filling up the zone quickly with possession of the puck. Noticeably more so than usual. They weren’t resorting to the dump and chase, they were entering with numbers and intent. They took over momentum in the period getting not just the first chance but rebounds and extended puck possessions in the offensive zone.
Minnesota goalie Marc-Andre Fleury gambled and lost 12:58 into the first. James van Riemsdyk to Travis Sanheim who passed across the slot to Scott Laughton. Fleury attempted a sweeping poke at the pass and missed leaving him belly down on the ice. The pass continued uninterrupted to Laughton who lifted the puck up and over the sprawling goaltender from an off angle at the side of the net.
The Flyers were filling up their defensive zone nicely as well. Their coverage was condensed and precise forcing the Wild to play from the perimeters. Since they weren’t getting in close they resorted to shooting from the point with traffic in front hoping for a deflection and that is exactly what happened. Oskar Sundqvist was given credit for the goal.
Shooting the puck
Great to see the Flyers defensemen carrying the puck with confidence all the way into the offensive zone. Again in the second period the Flyers were totally outnumbering the Wild in the Minnesota end. Morgan Frost put in the hard work along the boards before passing to Cam York who let a shot go from the point. Joel Farabee had a nice deflection out front putting the Flyers up two to one. Farabee has a recent habit of making it onto the score sheet as things have really been falling into place for him. Halfway through regulation the shots on goal were a lopsided 18-8 in favor of Philadelphia.
No place like home
The Flyers were continuing with the odd man rushes entering the zone cleanly with numbers. And when there were breaks the other way their recoveries were impressive. They looked different tonight, perhaps it is all the home cooking and lack of travel during this extended homestand. This was game number five of seven straight at home.
The Flyers had a bit of a melt down late in the second that started when Matt Boldy cruised right up the slot and had all day to tee up a wrist shot that tied the game at two. Minutes later Marcus Foligno beat Carter Hart with an unobstructed wrister from the circle. Two glove side goals in a matter of minutes. If Hart was not kicking himself after the first one he definitely was after the second. Hart excels when he sees a lot of shots. They Flyers keeping the Wild away from the net was suddenly working against them.
Rasmus Ristolainen lit the lamp on the power play to tie the game with 23 seconds left in the second. So after two well played periods a couple indiscretions by the Flyers sent them into the 3rd period the same way they started the 1st. Even Steven.
The Wild came into the final period with a better plan to keep the Flyers bottled up while getting some chances on an early power play. Carter Hart looked more like himself as the workload increased in the third. Minnesota had definitely stolen the momentum before Matt Boldy snuck a backhander through the five hole with 6:28 left to go.
Tyson Foerster stole it right back 44 seconds later with a rocket of a wrister that rang in off the pipe with a resounding certainty. It blew the roof off the place. This kid is good and with what he is bringing to this team he better start looking for an apartment in Philly.
Extra hockey:
Owen Tippett took a hooking penalty that left the Flyers playing shorthanded till the end of regulation. The penalty extended 26 seconds into the overtime period. So in the overtime they played four on three, then four on four, and finally three on three as intended. They Flyers had some really good chances in the five minute period but to no avail.
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Shoot-outs are not usually the Flyers strong suit but tonight was different. Carter Hart and JVR won it for the Orange and Black. Hart was flawless and JVR put on as many moves as were needed to finally find a hole in Marc-Andre Fleury.
Extra Credit: There are people who tune out as soon as hope for a playoff spot is gone. Those folks cheated themselves out of a really entertaining hockey game tonight. Time is running out, get all the home-town hockey you can get.
What is up with your articles dude? I can’t believe that Jamey keeps publishing this crap. You have zero talent when it comes covering this team. Total nonsense every time. Stick to your day job whatever it is because this ain’t it bud.