Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
Game 5 was yet another opportunity for the Flyers to close out this Round 1 Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. The Pens avoided being swept by the Flyers this past Saturday night with a 4-2 win in Philadelphia.
The Flyers once owned a commanding lead in this series enjoying a 3-0 advantage. Suddenly they are looking at a 3-2 lead with the Penguins stealing momentum and looking to tie things up on Wednesday night in Philly.
Line-up changes
Some line-up changes for this pivotal Game 5 in Pittsburgh. Juulesn out Andrae in. And the big one, Michkov out Bump in. This move has caused some division among the fanbase, not a rift necessarily but Philly fans are opiniated, passionate, and vocal in their loyalty.
Just for the record Bump pretty much settled the argument with his performance in this game. BUT also keep in mind, there’s no reason that the Bump-Michkov discussion has to end with and either-or solution.
Denver Barkey started the game on the top line and the Flyers came out with jump. Bump came out banging and the energy level was high. However as the opening period settled in Pittsburgh started to take control of the pace.
It was an odd flip of the script as the Penguins were taking pucks away from the Flyers who were taking to much time making decisions. The Pens were the speedier team in the 1st period. The Flyers were not doing their usual job of policing their porch and the Penguins were setting up and roaming freely through the dangerous area in front of the net.
The 1st scrum of the night was followed by a bit of a warning for both coaches. The on ice officials put the whistles away for the most part in this game but they made it clear from the start that they were not going to put up with a scrum at every stoppage of play. And Just for the record, Rasmus Ristolainen was the first Flyer to lose a helmet in this match.
A bad omen
The Penguins scored on their 1st shot of the game 2:45 into the opening period. Mantha to 6″-8″ Elmer Soderblom who beat Dan Vladar glove side. It was the first point of the series for both players. The Flyers were not just allowing the Penguins back into the series, they were allowing their stars back into the game.
The Flyers got their 1st power-play of the night and they spent it beating the heck out of the glass behind the net. Six shot attempts, five shots wide. Not sure if the boys were feeling the jitters or if it was the fact that they were finally facing the Penguins team we expected to show up in Game 1.
Flyers had some good pressure as time was running down yet it still seemed like the perfect time for the intermission and a chance to regroup.
The intermission did nothing to slow the momentum. Just 3:23 into the 2nd period Connor Dewar ripped a rocket over the shoulder of Dan Vladar. The puck was in and out in a jiffy but after a closer look the goal stood and the Pens were up 2-0. Sidney Crosby picked up the primary assist.
Take it back
Six seconds later Alex Bump validated Tocchet’s decision to give him a spot in the line-up. Bump burst up the right hand side of the ice and around the defense. Instead of continuing his push towards the front of the net he released a shot beating Arturs Silvos short-side to cut Pittsburgh’s fresh two goal lead in half.
Sidney Crosby was downed by some friendly fire taking a shot to the inside of the knee in front of the Flyers net. He headed straight up the tunnel but eventually did return to the ice.
With 4:45 remaining in the period Travis Sanheim tied the game at two. Sanheim fired the puck from near the side boards and benefited from a redirection off a Pittsburgh defenseman in front. Rasmus Ristolainen picked up his 2nd primary assist of the game and now leads his team in points for the series with a goal and 4 assists.
Luke Glendening was the 2nd Flyer of the night to have a helmet ripped off his head with no call. This has been a reoccurring theme in this series since the very 1st period of Game 1. Not just the Penguins pulling the Flyers helmets off but also the officials not penalizing them for doing so.
Back breaker
Dan Vladar seemed to be struggling a bit through the first two periods. He just didn’t look like his usual self. His positioning was scrambly, his rebound control was off, his glove wasn’t sharp. Then this happened. Kris Letang fired a shot from the point that was going way high and wide.
Vladar caught just a piece of the shot as it sailed towards the glass behind the net. The puck ricocheted off the glass, hit Vladar in the back, and went into the net with 2:48 remaining in the middle period. This fluke goal proved to be the game winner.
Before the period came to an end Anthony Mantha crashed into Vladar taking him into the net and the net off its moorings. Mantha got up took a swing at Konecny then landed a combination of punches on Travis Sanheim including an uppercut to the jaw that snapped his head back. Somehow the official who was right there did not see any infractions taking place.
Gimme a break
Another well timed intermission soon followed. The Flyers needed to readjust so 18 minutes of down-time could be just what the doctor ordered. The Flyers needed to figure out a way to reinsert their game plan into this match-up. The rejuvenated Penguins had them off their pins.
Dan Vladar started off the 3rd period with a fantastic pad save against Bryan Rust who was allowed to walk right out front with the puck. Unfortunately for the Flyers things had picked up right where they left off.
Crosby was back on the ice for the third period, and his line was swarming. Vladar made another huge stop on Rakell point blank. Vladar was settling in but the Flyers solid net front coverage was still MIA.
Philadelphia was creating plenty of chances of their own but they were also whiffing shots high and wide of the net over and over again. They were surely keeping the the folks in the good seats on their toes. Plenty of high velocity low precision shots ringing off the glass.
Final push
The Flyers pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker with two minutes remaining in regulation. Alex Bump stopped the first Pittsburgh attempt at the open net. Sidney Crosby shot wide of the empty net thus in effect icing the puck. This set up a Flyers faceoff in the offensive zone with 39.6 left on the clock. Tocchet utilized their time out.
The Flyers could not control the puck in the zone and again it was Crosby who had the best scoring chance in the final seconds hitting the post on a diving empty net attempt. Eventually time ran out on the Flyers push for a comeback. Travis Konecny cross-checked Crosby to the ice as the horn sounded leading to the final pile up of the night. The Penguins stayed alive by winning Game 5 by the final score of 3-2.
This is coming back to Philly
After the game Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said he thought “Bumper was great, Barkey was good”. “Other guys need to hold onto pucks and win battles in the corners”. Dan Vladar gave the Penguins credit, “they are a really good team there’s a reason they are in the playoffs”.
Alex Bump was the Flyers most effective player on the ice tonight. With a goal, two hits, and a team high 4 shots on goal in his 15:29 time on ice. On the flip side Porter Martone has kind of faded into the background along with the core of veteran players who need to find their footing and step it up for Game 6.
The Flyers will have one more low risk chance to close this series out on Wednesday night in Philly. If they fail to get the job done at home it turns into a one game series in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Safe to say Wednesday is not a “must win” but it’s gettin’ pretty darn close.
Extra Credit: This game proved to be perhaps the last low risk opportunity to rest Dan Vladar while giving Samuel Ersson some time on ice to keep him in game shape. Vladar was not sharp tonight and Ersson has not seen competition since April 14th vs Montreal. Ersson has won 5 of his last 7 starts. Vladar stopped 18-of-21 shots tonight for a .857 SV%.
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