Date Published: 11-22-2022
As the Philadelphia Flyers headed back from Washington to Philadelphia with a 3-2 overtime heartbreaker to the Washington Capitals. The Flyers had one thing on their minds, which was to limit the goals/chances against a struggling, decimated with injuries team in the Caps. It didn’t turn out so well for Felix Sandström as he kept them in it as long as he could, but unfortunately he succombed to defeat. Good news moving forward is Sandström is really playing some strong hockey. He deserved a better fate, as he finished the game with 29 saves and a .906 Save Percentage. Sandström was that good, he was given the third star of the game , “He was awesome,” Morgan Frost said following the game, while John Torotrella said that Sandström “Gave us a shot,” following the game.
Where do the Flyers go from here? Within less than a week apart, the Flyers have failed to close out two games within the last three minutes of winning two games, yes two: The Montreal Canadiens tied the game with 1.9 seconds on Saturday, while the Capitals tied the game with 2:58 left on the clock last night. On this particular night against the Caps it was a blown coverage that lead to the game tying goal, and Torts was pissed following the game:
“The frustrating part for me is the second goal. It’s a coverage we go over time and time again, and it didn’t come from a young guy.” – John Tortorella
The Caps only mustered six shots on net total in the third period. The Flyers really held their own, but a blown coverage led to Sonny Milano scoring the game tying goal, and the eventual game winner was a blown coverage, as well, for the overtime winner by Alex Ovechkin.
It’s unfortunate, the Flyers played well and looked to end their seven game losing skid, but a team can only get away with blown coverages and missed opportunities for so long, “It’s definitely frustrating (shhhh), we played a good game,” said Morgan Frost following the game. “Yea it’s tough, but there is a good feeling in the locker room. We are missing so many guys, we have to learn how to finish.”
Frost is 100% accurate when he says the team has to learn to “Finish.” The Flyers could have four more points in the standings, and possibly be winners of two out of their last three games played if they knew how to close out games. It appears they are missing that Veteran like Sean Couturier to log valuable minutes. They need someone to help groom the youth, and that is missing with the loss of Scott Laughton, as well.
“To stagnate, so deliberate, we can’t make the next play. It is what it is.” – John Tortorella
Fortunately, the Flyers are getting some pretty solid goaltending on a nightly basis, but Sandstrom and Carter Hart are being hung out to dry on many occasions by their comrades. It’s par for the course right now until they are able to get some healthy bodies back.
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Extra Credit:
With an assist last night, Ivan Provorov moved into sole possession of 7th All-Time for points by a Flyers defenseman, per stats and info. He also only needs one more point for 200 for his NHL career.
