Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Philadelphia Flyers came into tonight’s tilt with a consistently improving record of 13-12-4. They were playing host to the visiting Detroit Red Wings 11-13-4. The Wings saw the return of goaltender Cam Talbot after missing four games due to injury.
Philly vs Detroit
The Flyers took to the ice with the line of Matvei Michkov, Owen Tippett, and Morgan Frost. All three of these players have been quite productive as of late and have been skating together on a regular basis. This is a great sign that the Flyers depth is starting to solidify.
Detroit came out fast, throwing pucks at Flyers netminder Aleksei Kolosov who proved to be up to the challenge.
After Detroit’s initial surge the Flyers started picking pockets in the neutral zone, creating chances, and eventually outshooting the Wings 12-7 in the 1st period.
Cam Talbot
Detroit stepped up the physical aspect of their game as the 2nd period got underway. They were seeking out and finishing checks at both ends of the ice.
Philadelphia had a few shifts mid-way through the middle period where they were absolutely swarming in the Detroit zone.
Michkov looked as if he was totally about to break the seal with a slapper from the circle only to be robbed at the last second by Talbot. Shots were 21-11 in the Flyers favor at this point in the game. You can add Farabee, Couturier, and Cates to the list of the stoned. Talbot was quickly becoming the difference in this contest. It should be said he played one heck of a hockey game tonight.
When all else fails…
Talbot was looking unsolvable when Scott Laughton found himself coming in all alone with plenty of time on a clean breakaway. He skated up the slot to the hashmarks. No deke, no fake, just a flat out full on slap shot from ten feet away. Flyers-1 Detroit-0, unassisted.
Morgan Frost had a sweet prolonged possession in the Red zone. He was being harangued by Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson. Frost controlled the puck with one hand while using the other to pull Edvinsson’s stick out of his hand. The ref generously called Edvinsson for hooking.
On the delayed call Matvei Michkov got control of the puck behind the net and attempted a “Michigan” and all eyes were immediately on Flyers head coach John Tortorella.
The 2nd period ended with the shots on goal 30-14 and a score of one zip. The Flyers could have been running away with this one if it was not for the fine performance of the Detroit goaltender.
The 3rd period was just about to get underway when Michkov and Alex Debrincat could not agree on how to share their side of the faceoff circle at center ice. Things were simmering as the ref was waiting for them to settle. When the puck was finally dropped things boiled over and Michkov ended up picking up two minutes for roughing while Debrincat got away unscathed.
While short-handed Travis Konecny skated the puck down the right side into the Red Wings zone. He dished the puck to Scott Laughton who was charging towards the net. Laughton tucked the puck behind Talbot 1:31 into the final period to put the Flyers up by two.
During the course of the night the Flyers had been able to create numerous odd man rushes leaving Red Wings flat footed in the neutral zone and hanging their hopes on their goaltender. It had to be a blast to be on the team in the black and orange last night.
At this stage of the game it had been a great night out. There were tons of thrills and things to cheer about. The Flyers had gotten to halfway through the 3rd period holding onto their two goal lead. Nobody was going to complain if the Flyers chose to slowly strangle the Red Wings, dumping pucks, and grinding things to a crawl for the final ten minutes.
That was not to be the case. Detroit scored with just under four minutes left and suddenly it was a new game under a completely different set of circumstances.
The Red Wings were pushing. The Flyers were having trouble clearing their own zone and suddenly the most important player on the ice was Aleksei Kolosov who made a number of huge saves.
The Flyers managed to keep Talbot trapped in his net until 1:41 when he made a run for it in lieu of the extra attacker.
The Flyers got control of the puck. Konecny fed a pass to Scott Laughton at the blue line. Laughton skated in alone and capped off the play by completing the hattrick. It was the perfect ending to a great night for the Orange and Black.
Not yet…
With the Wings net still empty and only seconds left on the clock Scott Laughton and Garnet Hathaway ended up behinds all Red Wings with the puck skating towards the empty net. Flyers Fans erupted as the play was coming together. Laughton being the type of guy he is passed the puck to Hathaway. Hathaway being cut from the same cloth passed it right back. Final score: Scott Laughton – 4, Detroit Red Wings – 1.
Extra Credit: Outside in the parking lots after the game the wind was whipping the frigid air through the open spaces the way it does down there. It was one degree below freezing and almost nobody had a hat on.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
