Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
This game opened with zero rhythm for either squad as constant whistles caused a choppy start and stop pace throughout most of the first half of the period. The Flyers created a couple good chances as the Blues could get nothing going.
Eventually Morgan Frost dumped the puck into the neutral zone to Matvei Michkov. Michkov went in 2-on2 with Owen Tippett on his right wing. Michkov held onto the puck till the last second drawing both Blues to him. He then slid the puck through traffic to Tippett for the tap at the side of the net 9:15 into the period.
St. Louis did not register their first shot on goal until there was only 8:14 left in the opening period. It was a two on one that didn’t actually lead up to a shot. They lost control of the puck and it ended up making its way to Flyers goaltender Alexei Kolosov. That still counts.
Kolosov stopped a dead serious attempt with just under three minutes left when he stoned Jordan Kyrou on a breakaway.
2nd Period
The second stanza started up way more wide open than the first. Things heated up when Zack Bolduc nailed Travis Sanheim to the boards behind the Flyers net. Both Ryan Poehling and Garnet Hathaway took offense to the hit and a scrum ensued that ended with Poehling going to the box.
The Flyers killed the penalty which ended with a flurry in front of the Philadelphia net. Poehling exited the box to receive a clearing puck and go in all alone on a breakaway. His attempt was stopped by recent franchise win leader Jordan Binnington.
Goaltending Expo
Kolosov followed with two huge saves. Stopping Joseph on a clean breakaway and Alexey Toropchenko on a 2-on-1. The Flyers 2nd power play of the night found the best scoring chance going to former Flyer Brayden Schenn. Kolosov shut him down with a confident glove. Unfortunately the Flyers power-play has once again gone cold after a decent start at the beginning of the season.
As the period was running down Travis Konecney forced his way with the puck to the front of the Blues net and attempted to jam the puck through Binnington. The puck ended up bouncing sideways and finding Sean Couturier alone at the side of a gaping net. Binnington made a sprawling glove save on Coots that will be on the highlight reels for the rest of the night.
The Flyers had made it through the dreaded 2nd period with their one goal lead intact. Garnet Hathaway has had an active stick as of late and had a few nice chances during the second but as I said both netminders were stunningly good.
3rd Period
More of the same, Kolosov made two big saves on Brandon Saad as soon as things got underway. Finally the Blues found a way to solve Kolosov with 8:49 left in regulation when Dylan Halloway beat him high glove side with a wrister from the slot.
You take that back!
Less than one minute later the Flyers retook the lead after Binnington stopped Bobby Brink all alone in front with a sprawling save. The puck went off the post to Tyson Foerster who buried it. In a game like this one where goals were so hard to come by this one was huge.
Jordan Binnington went on to stop not one but two consecutive clean breakaways by Joel Farabee. With time quickly drawing to a close St. Louis was given a huge gift at a very pivotal point of the game. With just 2:10 left in regulation one of the Flyers best penalty killers, Travis Konecny, was the recipient of a somewhat generous hooking call.
With just over a minute left St. Louis pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker making it 6-on-4. With the Blues buzzing Kolosov made a huge save on Justin Faulk but Jake Neighbours banged the rebound home to tie the score at two with just :19.4 seconds left on the clock.
OT …again
The Flyers lead the NHL in overtime appearances with ten already this season. Just 28 seconds in Travis Konecny made a diving play to intercept the puck in the Flyers zone. In one continuous motion while sliding towards his own net Konecny flung the puck up ice to spring Matvei Michkov in on a breakaway. With a defender in hot pursuit Michkov faked on the forehand, went to the backhand, and beat Jordan Binnington to win the game.
At just 19 years of age the Flyers rookie has three game winning overtime goals. He leads the league among rookies in goals and points with 9 goals and 10 assists for a total of 19 points over 23 games. The Flyers are now 12-10-3 and things are definitely looking up for the Orange and Black.
Next Up: Flyers host the Panthers Thursday night 7 PM
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