Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
This hockey town really needed a night like tonight.
Philly vs Anaheim
Philly is a tough town, we’re not known for our thin skin. People actually love the place once they get to know it. But you gotta give it a chance first. One thing that this town apparently does not like, not even a little bit, is when you are offered an invitation to become part of our “thing” and you turn your nose up at the opportunity. Which brings us to tonight’s ice hockey game. It would be impossible to describe this game without mentioning all the drama surrounding it.
We all know the story of Cutter Gauthier. He was drafted by the Flyers 5th overall in 2022. He seemed excited about it at the time. Then he refused to come play hockey here. He refused to even take calls from some of the most respected members of the Flyers organization. When things totally broke down a deal was struck with the Ducks to send his rights to Anaheim in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a 2nd round pick in 2025.
Tonight was the Ducks first trip to Philly since that all went down. It was the first opportunity Flyers Fans have had to voice their opinion on the matter as a group. And it was a real hoot.
Let’s go!
The Flyers and the Ducks have almost identical records this season. But the Flyers held the upper hand from the very beginning of the contest. The noise in the arena was awesome and had to have an impact down on the ice. The Ducks seemed more focused on not getting caught out of position instead of jumping on pucks. They were playing very carefully and backing off too easily. The Flyers were playing a much more aggressive and confident game.
The Ducks are not of the caliber where they can make you pay for every little mistake so the play was fast and a bit loose. The crowd was pumped and edging things along. Gauthier’s first shift was accompanied by non-stop booing. For the duration of the night every single time he came onto the ice or touched the puck he got the same response.
Travis Konecny had a very strong and prolific game tonight. He set up the Flyers first goal firing a shot from the left hand side that was redirected in front by Morgan Frost 6:48 into the first period.
With 1:49 left in the opening period it was Frost passing cross ice to Konecny in almost the same spot along the left side boards. Konecny hit Jamie Drysdale with a perfect pass right in front of the net. Drysdale made a quick move then slam dunked the puck past Anaheim goaltender John Gibson. The crowd erupted then broke into chants of “Jamie’s better”.
The 1st period ended with one of the night’s many scrums and the Flyers outshooting the Ducks14-7.
Samuel Ersson started this game in net for the Flyers. He was strong throughout and recorded the shut-out. He received a lot of support from his defensive core who, for the most part, kept the Ducks away from the dangerous areas. Rasmus Ristolainen had a good game. He was a wrecking ball out there. He was in a checking mood and sometimes his size and strength can be almost comical as he crumples opponents into the boards.
Owen Tippett scored the only goal of the 2nd period with just 3:48 left on the clock. Again Travis Konecny set up the goal. TK was so patient with the puck along the right side boards. When the time was right he threaded a precision pass to Tippett who was streaking towards the net. Tippett fired the puck over the glove of Gibson giving the Flyers a three goal lead.
Overkill
The 3rd period opened with Ryan Poehling breaking in and stealing the show. It was a high speed solo rush that ended with a shot high blocker side just 24 seconds into the period. 4-0 Flyers.
The Flyers forwards were aggressively forechecking and forcing mistakes. The crowd never got tired of razzing Gautier and the Ducks and tempers were starting to boil over. Former Flyer and now captain of the Ducks, Radko Gudas, took it out on Flyers rookie sensation Matvei Michkov. Gudas threw Michkov onto the back of the Ducks net. He picked him up and threw him against the boards and got him with a few shots to the head.
In a total leap of logic both players went to the box for roughing. There were many, many penalties during the course of this game. The excitement level combined with the score was leading to a lot of frustration and physical play.
Poetry
At 7:36 Drysdale passed the puck Konecny. Konecny fired a shot. Michkov picked up the rebound and buried it. Again the crowd started chanting “Jamie’s better”. Travis Konecny had just recorded his 4th primary assist of the night. And it was Michkov who had just been thrown around like a rag doll and penalized for it who scored the goal. 5-0 Flyers.
Garnet Hathaway put the cherry on top 8:55 into the final period. He scored from right in front while falling to his butt then rolling over backwards. This bought the house down.
At that point Samuel Ersson and the Flyers clamped down on things preserving the shut out and winning the game 6-0.
After all the hype. After the Ducks “closed” practice at the Class of 23 Rink on Friday. After security removing signs and banners from Flyers Fans at the pregame warm-up. After all that, the Flyers and their loyal fans finally got the chance to respond to the whole situation. And it was a night to remember.
Extra Credit: You have to wonder if at some point while seeing all the passion and excitement in that rink tonight if the thought ever ran through Gauthier’s head. “Wow this could have been my team. These crazy and wonderful people could have been on my side. I could have been part of the amazing history of this awesome hockey town”. …If he didn’t ponder that even just for a few seconds then the Flyers Fans were right, F-him.
