Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers were in Manhattan Thursday night to face off against the Rangers. New York is holding down the basement in the Metro and are one of only two teams with less points in the division than the Flyers. This was the Rangers first game after the Olympic break, the Flyers are on the second nigh of a back-to-back after losing Wednesday night in Washington.
Philly vs NYC
Samuel Ersson got the start in net for the Flyers tonight and within the first half minute the Rangers were coming at him on a 4-on-1 break. He was called on to make several big saves right off the bat. Huge glove save against Adam Fox. Tons of Rangers camped out on the porch keeping him moving from side to side.
After the initial pressure things started to even out a bit. Then after making a series of phenomenal saves in the first half of the period. Sam Carrick lobbed a puck towards the Flyers net from the side boards that went right between Ersson’s legs and into the net at 10:04. It was one of those deflating moments that have defined this season since the new year.
Turnovers, allowing odd man rushes, missing opportunities, the Flyers had a laundry list of issues in the first.
Early in the 2nd period the Rangers struck again. A cross slot pass found Alexis Lafreniere in front and he sent it home far side 1:23 into the period.
Digging Out
The Flyers scored their 1st goal on their second power-play of the middle period. It was Noah Cates with a pass across the slot to Matvei Michkov who as playing on the right hand side to dunk it home at 10:25. Owen Tippett picked up the secondary assist.
Things looked much better as things settled in during the second. The Flyers were creating chances but Igor Shesterkin was sharp in his first game back after almost two months.
The 3rd period started with a bang. Just 39 seconds in Travis Konecny with a short pass to Trevor Zegras who skated in on a 2-on-1 with Christian Dvorak. Zegras hung onto the puck not telegraphing if he would choose the shot or the pass. Zegras wristed a laser far-side over the shoulder of Shesterkin to tie the game at two.
Samuel Ersson kept the Rangers at bay stopping 23 of 25 Rangers shots.
Michkov Makes it Happen
Matvei Michkov picked up a penalty with nine seconds left in regulation that would carry over into the five minute overtime. This however was not the defining moment that it could have been.
The Flyers lived through the penalty and 2:10 into OT a well rested Michkov received a pass in the neutral zone from captain Sean Couturier. Michkov blasted up the left hand side beating J.T. Miller along the boards. Miller was at the end of a long shift and did not even give chase as Michkov went in alone on Shesterkin, cutting across from left to right, and beating him five hole to end the game. Final score Flyers 3 Rangers 2.
The Flyers desperately needed this win. To fall to the Rangers as they are selling their team off and settling into the bottom slot in the division would have been a real low point. They stuck with it. Michkov stepped it up and pulled his team across the finish line.
Next Up: Flyers host the Boston Bruins Saturday afternoon at 3PM.
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