Instant reactions: Travis Konecny gives away OT, Flyers fall to Knights

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The Philadelphia Flyers went toe-to-toe with the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night in a nationally broadcast game, and began the way they always do, allowing the first goal for the 20th time in 29 games.

But Trevor Zegras and Noah Juulsen(!) scored tying goals in the each of the first two periods, setting up a big third period between the up-start Flyers and Cup-contending Knights.

Dan Vladar was his typically solid self between the pipes for Philly, allowing a third-chance power play goal to Mark Stone, as well as a Zach Whitecloud 1-on-0 that saw the Vegas D-man walk through the o-zone unchecked like it was a penalty shot.

But a scoreless third period gave us OVERTIME, Philadelphia’s 11th game beyond regulation, and the Knights’ 13th. This is not a shock. In fact, it was one of my Pregame Picks.

But it was an ugly Travis Konecny blunder in OT that allowed Jack Eichel to feed Mark Stone for the winner, and a solid effort against a really good team came up short. Bummer. Anyway, here are my live thoughts as the game unfolded.

First period

Vegas has controlled most of the first six minutes or so, but not a whole lot has really happened. But just as I’m typing this, Zach Whitecloud breaks from the point and gets a pass from Ivan Barbashev right in the middle of the ice, allowing Whitecloud to deke Dan Vladar and put the Golden Knights up 1-0. That’s now 20 of 29 games the Flyers have allowed the first goal. And has has become customary I must point out they’ve gone 11-6-2 in the first 19.

That play really started in Philly’s offensive zone with Whitecloud blocking a Matvei Michkov attempt 1-on-1 before play was sent the other way. So decent production at both ends for the guy with one of the coolest names in hockey.

The Golden Knights lead the shot battle 3-2 with 10:57 left in the first. The ESPN announcers are emptying the notebooks early with facts as they await some actual action.

After the stoppage, Trevor Zegras & Co. are getting some looks on offense, but both shot attempts missed the net. The Noah Cates line does some work to keep possession in the offensive zone, including Cates shaking off a hit from Mark Stone, but the shot from the Nick Seeler point-shot was not dangerous.

The Flyers have put up a couple chances, the most recent an o-zone interception by Christian Dvorak in the o-zone, but his backhand attempt misses. BUT ON THE SAME SHIFT ZEGRAS FINISHES A GIVE-AND-GO WITH TRAVIS SANHEIM TO TIE THE GAME! Man, the Zegras narrative during this national broadcast is very much, “who knew he was this competitive?” and “who would’ve thought he’d be the Flyers’ leading scorer?” And like, maybe he needed to grow up. Sure. But he put up 127 points at ages 20-21 in the National Hockey League. Do you know HOW GOOD he’d actually have to be to do that without caring? Wayne Gretzky-level good.

Also, Sanheim’s pass, as he’s drifting to the left point, as he finds Zegras attacking the right wing far post, was pretty awesome.

And now, witrh 17 seconds left in the period, the Flyers are getting a PECOOOOO Power Play, with Barbashev headed to the box for tripping Emil Andrae. Owen Tippett gets one look and misses high, and that’ll leave 1:43 of PP time for the Orange & Black to start the second.

Second period

The Golden Knights get the kill to begin the period, without allowing a shot, and then Vegas got right on the attack, and if not for a huge left pad save by Vladar, this game would be 2-1. Dan VlaSTAR robbed Barbashev seconds after stopping Jack Eichel in tight, as well. The Barbashev save was impressive.

But now the Golden Knights’ 7th ranked power play takes the ice, with Carl Grundstrom whistled for holding Tomas Hertl. But the best chance of the 5v4 came off the stick of Cates, who got a shot against Akira Schmid through a 1-on-1, and if not for a defenseman’s stick interrupting Cates’ second chance opportunity on his own rebound, he may have scored Philly’s first short-handed goal of the season.

Tippett nearly set up Michkov twice, first just missing him in a 2-on-1, and then grabbing the loose puck in the slot off the ill-fated pass and finding Michkov alone right in front of Schmid, but the Vegas netminder stoned Michkov despite a nifty forehand-backhand move. The Flyers have had the better of the chances, really, since the midway point of the first period.

Halfway through the game, we’re tied at 1, and the Flyers lead the shot battle 11-10.

Vegas is getting another power play with 7:55 left after Philly has too much man on the ice. They needed to stay out of the box and have done that reasonably well through 30+ minutes, but stupid stuff like bench minors are the mistakes that will cost you against a team that scores about 25% of their goals on the power play.

Michkov serves the penalty.

Just as the commentators are discussing Stone’s impact on the Knights’ power play, he directs a puck onto Vladar then gets his rebound and pokes it thorugh to make it 2-1. That’s exactly what the Flyers couldn’t afford, but let’s see how they respond.

Ok, now a power play for the Flyers! Pavel Dorofyev tripped Nikita Grebenkin, and that’s not allowed. PECOOOOO!

Travis Konecny gets a nice wrister on Schmid after Sanheim made a nice keep with his glove at the line, but Schmid was able to block it away. The second unit came on with about 50 seconds left on the penalty and mishandled a bunch of pucks. Nothing out of that man-advantage. Still 2-1 Knights.

NOAH JUULSEN TIES IT! YOU READ THAT RIGHT! JUULSEN! After a great forecheck, Dvorak sent a pass to Juulsen on the left side and he ripped a one-timer short side by Schmid. with unde four minutes left in the middle frame. Hell yeah! Put Juulsen on the power play! Grundstrom picks up the secondary assist, giving him points in consecutive games since returning to the lineup.

Juulsen’s last goal was February 14, 2024. That’s 663 days between goals.

The period ends 2-2, and the SOGs are knotted up at 14. Philly has been the better team, but here’s the hard part- putting away a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

Third period

Mark Stone had a chance to score the go-ahead goal after blocking a Jamie Drysdale shot and taking it the other way, but Andrae was able to chase him down and mute his one-handed try against Vladar with about 13:30 left in regulation.

The Flyers have played 10 OT games in their first 28 this season, and Vegas has gone beyond 60 minutes 12 times in their first 29. I think we all know where this is going. Through eight minutes, Philly is yet to record a shot on goal. Not losing is cool, but I would really like to see them get the pressure and chances they had for a lot of the first 40.

Matvei Michkov created a breakaway for Sean Couturier with a takeaway at center ice, but Coots only found iron. DAMMIT! I want to say good stuff about Michkov in postgame.

Schmid is really having a solid game, as he just denied a few attempts in-close for the Flyers’ fourth line. There was traffic and a little chaos but he stayed strong in the paint.

After getting away with some obvious interferences and a hold of a stick, the Golden Knights are finally called for a penalty, it’s Brett Howden for holding. The Flyguys are getting a PECOOOO Power Play with 4:48 left in regulation. LET’S GO! LET’S WIN IT BEFORE OT!

Philadelphia just got called for icing on the power play. Ugh. Nothing much else happened. No shots on goal for the second time in three opportunities. Not ideal.

Vegas ices it with 28.5 seconds left! Vegas wins the faceoff, though, Tomas Hertl over Coots. Now we’re headed to OT!

Overtime

Oh my god, TK gives it away deep in his own zone and Stone buries the winner on a cross-ice feed from Eichel. Are you kidding me? What did Konecny just do? It’s like he forgot he had the puck? Welp. Flyers lose.

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