The Philadelphia Flyers are a tired hockey team.
On the third game of a late-season west coast road trip with a short-handed lineup, the Orange & Black visited Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks on Saturday evening, in what was a more-physical-than-expected contest that saw a couple of fights, a number of big hits, and a bunch of long scrums and battles along the boards.
Owen Tippett continued his strong run, playing noticeably throughout the game, using his speed and handles to create a number of chances, cashing one in to open the game’s scoring. Christian Dvorak ended a long drought of his own, as well as for the whole team’s power play. Dvo hadn’t scored in 8 games and had only tallied once in his last 19 before scoring the go-ahead goal in the third on the power play, ending an 0/20.
With a couple of empty-netters to end the game, and a very strong final 20 minutes from Dan Vladar, the Flyers wrap up their California adventure with three straight wins, and didn’t even need OT to do it today!
First period
Highlight: There were a few exciting Owen Tippett sequences, including a pair of short-handed chances that didn’t quite go, plus a big hit or two on Macklin Celebrini, but I’m giving the highlight of the period to Garrett Wilson. Playing in his second NHL game since 2019, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms did what he could to inspire his exhausted teammates, dropping the gloves with Ryan Reaves. Decent scrap, especially considering the combined age of the combatants was 74. I’ll give the slight edge to Reaves, but Wilson stood in there and landed a few. Good stuff.
What I want to see next period: I know they just want to get away today, and playing Emil Andrae as the de facto 4C, and it’s a 1PM puck drop in California, but I just want to see them wake up a bit. Tippett was everywhere in the first period, creating chances, throwing the body, but outside of a few other shifts, nobody really stood out. Allowing six shots in a period is ok. Getting six SOG through 20 minutes isn’t enough against a goaltender making his third start in four days, after allowing 10 goals on the last 53 shots he faced.
Second period
Highlight: After a much better start to the period with Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak doing a lot of work down low to keep the possession alive, Owen Tippett opened the scoring the following shift, accepting a pass as he entered the San Jose zone, dragging the puck around Nick Leddy on arrival and ripping a shot by Alex Nedeljkovic to put the Flyers up 1-0. After being the lone player who appeared to have his legs on Philly’s bench in the first, he just looked like he’d get (at least) one today.
What I want to see next period: Much more entertaining period overall, including a lot of physicality. Barclay Goodrow laid one of the biggest hits of the period on Trevor Zegras as Zegras turned around on the wall, walking right into a big shoulder. Noah Cates fought Goodrow after the hit (and din’t get an instigator!), for the second fight of the game. Both teams have turned up the intensity. I just want to see the Flyers hold on, as it certainly seems like the Sharks have identified throwing the body around to possibly wear down the tired Flyers. And, of course, NO OVERTIME! PLEASE!
Also, let’s see a little something from Matvei Michkov. After a very quiet five minutes of ice time in the first period, he looked a little better in the second. It would be cool if he could put a stamp on this game in the third.
Third period
Highlight: A POWER PLAY GOAL! Christian Dvorak scored after Garnet Hathaway laid a big hit on Celebrini, drawing a retaliation penalty by Mario Ferraro 1:14 into the third period. On the play, Michkov picked up career point #100, and the Flyers ended an 0-for-20 power play drought, scoring on their fourth advantage of the game. Philadelphia had not scored on the power play since March 9th, and had only tallied twice in the month of March when up a man (or two).
Final note: Say what you will about this Flyers team, but they’re still fighting. Ultimately it still feels like their 3-8-4 stretch leading into the Olympics will keep them out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs but they’ve battled this condensed schedule and a short roster in March and they’ve done it well. This is an impressive stretch for a team that felt DEAD just a few weeks ago.
2 Comments
David LaVeck
Dare I say this team is playing loose when other teams are playing tight. The Flyers really have nothing to lose and they are a dangerous out at this point. I mean they came into each team’s building on this west coast trip and found a way to win. It is hard not to get excited when this is the exact opposite of their collapse two years ago. It seems that they are truly a team who plays better from behind than ahead both in game and in the standings.
Dan Bernard
It’s a shame abt the swoon in January, and if they’d had a competent backup goalie then, they’d probably be in a playoff spot. But, it is what it is, let’s see what the last 13 games bring. I’m a little concerned abt running Vladar into the ground.