Instant reactions: Alex Bump DELIVERS first career goal in NHL debut, Flyers win SHOOTOUT

Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame

The NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone, and while Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere did not make the most anticipated move, trading Rasmus Ristolainen, there were some new faces in Orange & Black for the final meeting of the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday evening following the trades of Bobby Brink and Nic Deslauriers.

Alex Bump, the 22-year-old winger who led Western Michigan to an NCAA Championship last year, made his NHL debut for Philly after recording 11 goals and 26 points in 36 AHL games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Flyers also claimed the nearly 37-year-old depth forward Luke Glendening off waivers yesterday, and he also made his debut, making it five teams for Glendining during his 13-year NHL career.

Bump was the story of the night, scoring his first career goal to tie the game in the second period, while his line with Nikita Grebenkin and Christian Dvorak was the only Flyers line through two periods with an expected-goal percentage above 50 (69.11%) at 5v5. Denver Barkey was also strong, scoring on a feed from Matvei Michkov and creating a couple other scoring chances with Michkov, as their chemistry continues to grow.

For the 21st time this season, the Flyers needed OT, and of course, the game came down to a shootout and since Trevor Zegras is a Flyer, the good guys won the skills competition, making sure Bump’s first night in the big leagues was memorable.

First period

Highlight: The Flyers mustered only two shots on goal in the period, so there’s not much. After allowing the first goal of the game for the 42nd time through 62 games, allowing Tommy Novak to tally on the power play three minutes into the game, Owen Tippett netted his 20th of the year, completing a nice passing play from Cam York at the point, finding Trevor Zegras down low with an aerial pass that Ziggy gloved down and imediately fed to Tippett in front to tie the game. But I’m giving the highlight to Jamie Drysdale’s first career fighting major, sticking up for Cam York, who got run over by Avery Hayes behind the net.

What I want to see next period: More from Alex Bump, who looked decent on a few shifts in his opening period of NHL action, and some of that Matvei Michkov-Denver Barkey chemistry we’ve been clamoring to see more of, especially with Michkov now playing his preferred position on the right wing.

Second period

Highlight: Alex Bump, in his NHL debut, scores his first career goal on a wrist shot from the slot, completing a nice feed from Nikita Grebenkin in the RW corner. Pretty great moment for Bump, who had a bunch of family and friends in the crowd wearing “Official Bump Hype Crew” orange shirts in the crowd. Ok, I’ve seen enough. He belongs. Bump’s goal tied the game 1:08 after the Penguins took a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, Erik Karlsson put the Pens back up 59 seconds later, but Bump and his linemates Grebenkin and Christian Dvorak have found pretty quick chemistry, creating a couple more chances on their next shift together.

Denver Barkey re-tied the game on a great feed from Michkov after Noah Cates made a play at the blue line to keep the puck in Pittsburgh’s zone. After a sleep first period, we’re getting everything we want here in the second!

What I want to see next period: Pull Dan Vladar and put Sam Ersson in. I want to lose in regulation, but Vladar doesn’t deserve to take a loss after all the losses he’s had that were 95% the offense’s fault. Otherwise, I want to see some combination of Barkey, Bump and Michkov win this thing.

Third period

Highlight: The Flyers didn’t get their first shot of the period until there was 8:35 left on the clock. Even considering it took nearly eight minutes for the Pens to get their first SOG of the period, this is ridiculous. This is going to be the ninth straight game the Flyers register under 25 shots on goal, and they have managed double-digit shots on goal in a period just once in March, the first period in Toronto, which was the first period they played this month. Neither team scored on one of their four shots apiece in the final 20 minutes of regulation, so for the 21st time this season, the Flyers are headed to OVERTIME!

Overtime

Dan Vladar was called for a penalty with 2:09 left in OT, but the Flyers killed it and we’re off to Philly’s 10th shootout of the season, tying the LA Kings for most in the NHL.

Vladar denied all three attempts, Zegras scored the loan shootout goal, and the Flyers win in Pittsburgh. Hooray!

Final note: This team is ridiculous.

Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame