Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers coming off of a dramatic victory over the Florida Panthers headed into Tampa to take on the Lightning. At game time the Flyers were still holding onto 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division just four points ahead of the New York Islanders. Two Players new to Philadelphia following the trade deadline were in the line-up. #15 left winger Denis Gurianov, and #77 defenseman Erik Johnson both making their debut.
Philly vs Tampa
Less than two minutes in Victor Hedman beat Samuel Ersson with a wrist shot from the top of the slot. It was the first shot of the game and it was a stunner that nobody seemed ready for. The Lightning continued to buzz in the offensive zone. The Flyers were looking a bit back on their heels as Ersson failed to control a rebound in front of the Flyers net. The puck was laying right by the goal line as Tampa whacked away at it. Marc Staal dropped and laid straight out across the goal line. The puck did not find its way in but there was a penalty called against the Flyers on the play. Tampa controlled the puck on the delayed penalty for a considerable amount of time. It was already clear this game may really be headed in the wrong direction.
Tampa’s number one ranked power play went up against Philly’s number one ranked penalty kill and came out on top. Nicholas Paul scored the power play goal and suddenly the Flyers were down two-zip less than six minutes into the match. Surely not the start they were hoping for.
Conor Sheary scored with an unobstructed wrist shot from the circle that beat Ersson just under the glove from the circle. This is not the Samuel Ersson we have become accustomed to. Next up Brayden Point scored top shelf with a beautiful shot from the slot. 4-0 Tampa
Inventory 10:49 1st period
- Less than eleven minutes in the Flyers were being outshot 14-2.
- Tampa was running away with it 4-0.
- The Flyers had already racked up eleven penalty minutes against the league’s best power-play.
- Samuel Ersson’s night was over, he hit the pines in favor of Felix Sandstrom.
- John Tortorella got himself ejected from the game.
Tortorella seemed to have a difference in opinion with the on ice officials as to how the penalties were being distributed. After making himself abundantly clear he was asked to leave the bench. Tortz did not seem to be elated about this development either. He delayed his departure as long as possible. Before, during, and after making his way towards the tunnel he put on a clinic in adult lip reading that even a beginner could have passed with flying colors.
Simmer Down
After all of this transpired the Flyers found a way to steady things a bit. Sandstrom stopped some pucks and the Flyers put some shots on the Tampa net as things settled in. The second half of the 1st period was much improved but the damage was done.
The 2nd period started with a nice glove save by Felix Sandstrom and a number of fine chances by the Flyers offence. Over and over again the Flyers tested Andrei Vasilevskiy in a way that they had not been able to manage throughout the opening period.
Coots?
Mathew Dumba was giving Sean Couturier the business in front of the Tampa net 9:04 into the 2nd. Couturier eventually took exception to it and put an end to all the pushing and shoving by throwing off his gloves and squaring off with Dumba. Coots landed a shot and then contained Dumba, pulled his helmet off, and got him face down to the ice. Couturier could have landed a few shots while he had Dumba there defenseless but chose not to. It was Sean’s first fight in the last six years.
The Flyers kept the pressure on having the majority of shots and chances in the 2nd. They looked like they had just avoided a bad situation as Marc Staal chased Steven Stamkos down the ice staying with him as he took his shot. Sandstrom made the save and the rebound was directed into the corner. Stamkos headed to the corner, picked up his own rebound, and threaded a perfectly placed pass right in front to Anthony Duclair who put the puck into the Flyers net.
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Tall Order
The Flyers really bounced back in the middle period. They kept coming at the Lightning. The line of Cates, Poehling, and Hathaway being really effective. They erased the shot differential and allowed just one goal. But all that being said they were still going into the third period down 5-0.
Philly started out the final period looking a bit out of sorts again. They got an early power-play that looked totally out of synch and led to a couple Lightning chances. They had a huge hole to dig their way out of and just couldn’t seem to find the shovel. Sandstrom made some big saves to keep the task at hand from growing even more but time was working against the Orange and Black. As any hope was quickly washing away Victor Hedman scored his second goal of the game making it 6-0.
Shorten the bench
Coots took a high-sticking penalty and it only took Tampa seconds to take advantage, Brandon Hagel scored on the power-play making it 7-0. As time was running low Garnet Hathaway picked up his second misconduct of the night. At the next faceoff Cam Atkinson earned a trip down the tunnel after having the first fight of his NHL career.
Spring forward
The Flyers under Tortorella are not a team that is accustomed to a blowout like tonight’s game. They usually have the stamina to put up a fight and keep it competitive even when things aren’t going their way. This was just not their night in any way, shape, or form. Ersson was clearly not himself. They hit the iceberg early on and there was just too much damage to bounce back from. Hopefully everyone got their aggressions out and they can leave this one behind them and move forward quickly.
Extra Credit: The Islanders who are just four points behind the Flyers in the Metro will play twice before the Flyers return to action Tuesday night at home against the Sharks. Worst case scenario, the Islanders could move into a tie for third place by the time the Flyers take the ice again.
