Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
It was like spending the weekend in some sort of alternate universe. This is not the way things usually go around here. This is Philly and everything comes the hard way if it comes at all. This weekend, like clockwork, everything the Flyers needed to happen happened.
The Flyers have been doing their part. Working hard and wisely focusing on one game at a time. They’ve climbed back from the brink of oblivion since the Olympic break in February. They earned their wins, it’s that things that are beyond their control that fell into their lap this weekend.
What a weekend
After a disappointing loss to the Detroit Red Wings at home on Thursday the Flyers went to New York to play the Islanders on Friday night. At that moment in time the Islanders were sitting in 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers soundly defeated the Islanders to pull within one point of 3rd place. This is key as only the top 3 teams in each division are going to the playoffs. The next two teams in the Eastern Conference pick up the wildcard slots. The Boston Bruins are almost a lock for one of them so only one wildcard spot is up for grabs.
The Flyers were off on Saturday and they needed the other teams in the East to not collect any points in the meantime. Amazingly the Islanders, Red Wings, Senators, Bruins, and Blue Jackets all lost their respective games keeping their point totals essentially frozen.
Philly vs Boston
The Flyers hosted the Boston Bruins on Easter Sunday afternoon. There was a playoff type of tension in the air as there was a slight delay before the opening puck drop. Finally Lauren Hart came out to sing God Bless America. It was a throw back to another Sunday afternoon many years ago when the Flyers played the Bruins to win their first Stanley Cup. The Flyers have not played that card in a very long time.
This game was intense, hard hitting, and full of unfriendly competition. The Flyers scored early. Rasmus Ristolainen wrapped the puck around the boards behind the Flyers net. Porter Martone made a nifty between the legs redirect pass to start the break out. Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny stormed into the Boston zone on a 2-on-1. Dvorak hung onto the puck and opted to take the shot. He beat Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo short-side glove-side with a wrist shot from the right circle 4:19 into the opening period.
From that point on there was no scoring until the 3rd period. The Flyers were playing a strong defensive game. The forwards were back-checking aggressively and keeping the Bruins away from rebounds and second attempts. Break-outs were swift.
Players like Pastrnak, Geekie, and McAvoy were creating chances in the Flyers end but Flyers netminder Dan Vladar was there to shut them down.
The Flyers had to play this game without the boost that many teams get from having a man advantage. The Flyers went 0-for-4 on the powerplay in regulation.
Both teams were attempting to get under each other’s skin. There were plenty of scrums and lots of chirping. It was not a friendly match. Matvei Michkov appeared a bit flustered after a while. At one point he picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for firing a puck at the goaltender after clearly being whistled for offsides. A scrum ensued and Boston foolishly equalized the penalty by retaliating.
Later in the 2nd period the Bruins accidentally rolled their own goaltender and then got all salty about it in the confusion.
There were no penalties taken in the 3rd period but the Bruins started with 1:25 of power-play time left over from the 2nd. Just 35 seconds into the 3rd period the Bruins got on the board. Dan Vladar made a glove save on a one-timer from Pastrnak but could not control the rebound. Vladar was down and out as Pavel Zacha fired the puck into the net.
The defensive battle continued through the 3rd period and into overtime. Unfortunately for the Flyers so did the questionable officiating. The Bruins had two infractions in the overtime that were so obvious there was no looking the other way. This set the Flyers up with a two man advantage during sudden death.
Even when the calls were made there was a twist. Dvorak was pulled down on a breakaway but did not get the penalty shot. Zegras was bleeding from a high stick but only drew a minor penalty. Owen Tippett was mugged from behind on a breakaway late in the 3rd period and there was no call at all.
In hindsight none of that really mattered. 2:31 into the overtime period Porter Martone scored his 1st NHL goal. He picked up his own rebound right in front of the Boston net and did not hesitate to bury the game winning overtime goal. The barn exploded. The celebration was raucous on both sides of the glass.
This victory over the Bruins put the Flyers in sole possession of 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division meaning as things sit they have earned a playoff spot. But this is not the end, they have to protect that position for another week and a half. They have 5 games remaining in their regular season schedule. They are leading the Islanders by just one point, the Blue Jackets by 2, and the Capitals by 3. The Flyers have a game in hand on both the Isls and the Caps.
The surging Washington Capitals could have pulled to within one point of the Flyers by beating the cellar dwelling New York Rangers Sunday night. The Rangers spanked the Caps 8-1. What a weekend for the 3rd place Philadelphia Flyers. They currently sit in a playoff spot, their challenge now is can they hang onto it?
Extra Credit: The Flyers outshot the Bruins 31-19. Porter Martone yet again led the team in shots on goal with 5.
Next up: Flyers vs Devils in New Jersey Tuesday night 7PM.
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