Instant reactions: Flyers LIT UP by Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars

Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame

On the PHLY Flyers pregame show, we discussed how this was basically a “scheduled loss” for the Philadelphia Flyers. Back-to-backs on the road, three games in four nights, emotional roller coaster with overtime last night, and, oh yeah, the Dallas Stars are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Well… we were right.

The Flyers were without any jump for most of this contest, and really were never in the game. Whenever they had a decent chance, Jake Oettinger was there to deny it, and the combination of Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz was too much for the Orange & Black, with Robertson netting a natural hat trick, and Hintz earning one secondary and two primary assists on Robertson’s three goals.

Rough Saturday for the Flyguys after a fun Friday. But that’s the way she goes. They had nothing tonight.

First period

Just once I want to see Sean Couturier snap back a ceremonial faceoff.

Travis Sanheim showed off some of his defensive acumen early, when a 2-on-1 featuring a Mikko Rantanen shot kick-saved right into slam dunk territory for Wyatt Johnston, but Sanheim was able to use his reach to nullify what seemed to be a sure goal. Sanheim hasn’t had his usual early-season offensive surge, but his D has been great.

The Flyers are once again down 1-0, allowing a goal in the first five minutes that may have deflected off Bobby Brink after a sequence of desperation blocks that the Stars were finally able to finish.

Outside of a couple of possessions, the Flyers have not seen much of the puck early in this one. Through seven minutes, shots are 5-1 Stars, with Dallas currently in possession.

Dallas is dominating possession and chances right now, but a combination of Dan Vladar and some fortunate misses are keeping this a one-goal game for now. The Flyers ice it with 10:24 left in the frame, trailing 7-1 in shots, with chances happening every few seconds. Rantanen nearly scored while I’m writing this.

The Flyers have been at least able to slow the Stars’ pace as they try to ease their way into this game. It’s not a shooting range right now, and everything seems much calmer than a few minutes ago. But still, more than 15 minutes have been played and the Flyers have hit Jake Oettinger once. Oh no, make it twice. Travis Konecny is getting credit for a shot that I assumed would be deemed as going wide. So shots are 7-2 with 4:30 left.

And now the Stars get a power play as Brink gets called for interference. The Flyers’ PK has been excellent, but so too has been the Dallas power play, operating at nearly 33%, and 42.4% at home. That’s ridiculous. The Flyers get the kill, aided by a fortunate stick explosion for Tyler Seguin in the slot. Philly escapes the period trailing 1-0, but they did NOTHING in that period. The Stars are a great team. They could absolutely win the Stanley Cup. But damn. They owned that period. Two different sports.

Second period

At some poing during intermission Trevor Zegras was credited with a SOG, so shots are actually 10-3 before puck drop in the second.

Matvei Michkov played 3:46 in the first period, by far the least of any Flyer. He did have one nearly devastating turnover, with a pass right up the gut in the d-zone, but nothing actually came of it. But it’s hard to believe Michkov should be singled out in a game where the entire team (excluding Vladar) absolutely sucked in the first 20 minutes. Let’s see if the second period brings anything different.

Much better pace for the Flyers, and they’ve already matched their first period shot total, two minutes into the second. Philly is doing a much better job of killing plays in the neutral zone and getting the puck headed the other direction. Nothing substantial to show for it yeet, but at least they look like they belong on the ice with Dallas.

Owen Tippett does the first actually exciting thing to happen for a while, cutting to the middle on an entry and putting a shot on Oettinger that was stopped. Zegras followed up on the rebound but appeared to push it wide. After eight minutes, almost nothing has happened in this period, but the Flyers are starting to turn up the pressure.

Cam York and Sean Couturier combined to will a puck through the neutral zone and deep into Dallas territory, and Coots actually got it out front to a waiting Michkov, but Oettinger denied the chance. Dallas is doing a great job of moving pucks out of their end, so Philly really has no forecheck or second chance opportunities right now, but they’re also allowing nothing. The Stars have only two shots on goal through nearly 12 minutes.

But just like that it’s 2-0. Jason Robertson buries a rush chance, as the Stars somehow breakout 4-on-2, and as Seguin loses control as he takes the puck to the net, it ends up on Robertson’s stick and he doesn’t miss. It’s a shame just because the Flyers had finally settled into the game.

This is a boring hockey game. It’s just not interesting. Bring back last night’s high event affair.

Jason Robertson makes it 3-0 with three minutes left after a Flyers icing. A little mid-zone cycling on the half-wall leads to Robertson skating off the wall and picking a spot short side to beat Vladar. After the goal Rick Tocchet deployed the fourth line, and Garnet Hathaway took a run at somebody and I think we all expected the officials’ arm going up to be a call on Gart Angry, but it was actually a Dallas high stick minor, so Philly gets a power play.

The Flyers got one official shot and maybe a couple of chances. but nothing, and the period ends with the fourth line trying to get something going in the offensive zone to no avail, and with Philly trailing by three. Shots are 16-13 in the Stars’ favor.

Third period

The Michkov – Couturier – Konecny line is minus-2, and Michkov is the only forward in the top-nine under 10 minutes of ice time through 40 minutes. If this game is going to continue to be a walkthrough, the Flyers coaching staff should use it to get Michkov’s cardio up. Double-shift him.

Looks like Tocchet has mixed up the lines putting Brink on the right wing with Coots and Michkov, in place of TK, who is with Foerster and Cates, so that might be the only change for now.

This period isn’t the least bit interesting through four minutes. Just a lot of trading dump-ins. Michkov got a chance to try to jam a puck in around Oettinger after a mid-ice turnover, but the Dallas netminder said no.

Despite Philly needing to push for offense, it’s Dallas getting the better of the chances so far. With 13:43 left, the Flyers are being outshot 6-1.

Foerster is going to the box for a high-stick in a game that I guess is still going on. Yup, it is, and Jason Robertson converts the natural hat trick with his third consecutive goal of the game. Whatever. Holy hell, there’s still 10:30 left in the game.

HOT DAMN! NO SHUTOUT! Christian Dvorak nets his sixth to make the game look more respectable. I think I’ll wet my pants.

The Flyers get caught on a change and Seguin gets an outlet pass to break-in all alone, and makes it 5-1. The game had started to pick up a little physically prior to this and almost resembled entertaining hockey for a moment, but now with five minutes left I’d be surprised to see much from either side.

Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame