The Philadelphia Flyers came out flat once again, surrendering a pair of goals to Adrian Kempe in the first seven minutes of the game, and if not for an offside challenge overturning Andrei Kuzmenko’s goal, would have trailed 3-0 after the first intermission.
But the Flyers were a different team for the final 40 minutes of regulation. Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny scored in the first minute of the second and third periods, respectively, to tie the game, and that would be enough to force overtime.
Unfortunately, TK couldn’t convert a breakaway in OT, and Quinton Byfield scored shortly after to send the crowd home sad.
First period
Highlight: I don’t know, the Flyers video staff got a goal scored by former-Flyer Andrei Kuzmenko overturned for offside, keeping the score at 2-0 instead of 3-0. So, good job. After disastrous results against the Bruins on Thursday, the Michkov – Zegras – Brink line was solid in the first period. The trio led Philly in 5v5 TOI for the period (3:28), out-shooting the Kings 4-0 and out-attempting them 5-1 in their shifts together, while accounting for 96.77% of the expected goals (0.56 – 0.02), if you’re into that sort of thing in incredibly small sample sizes.
But over on the BIG10 Network, Michigan State is facing off with Penn State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. Flyers prospect Porter Martone picked up a secondary assist on a goal by Daniel Russell to put the Spartans up 1-0. So that’s cool.
What I want to see next period: The Flyers were fortunate to only be down 2-0 after the disallowed Kuzmenko goal, and being generally outplayed the entire period, minus the Zegras line’s offensive zone shifts. Make this an entertaining game. it’s not out of reach. They’ve got some power play time remaining to begin the second, use it to at least get something going and test Darcy Kuemper a little bit.
Second period
Highlight: TREVOR ZEGRAS POWER PLAY GOAL!
The Flyers make it a 2-1 game 39 seconds into the period on some really good cross ice passing between Travis Konecny, Bobby Brink and Zegras. Philadelphia was much stronger overall in the second, holding the Kings to four shots, the second of which came nine minutes into the period as Cody Ceci got out of the penalty box and caught the Flyers point-man changing right as his linemates turned the puck over, springing Ceci, but Vladar made the stop.
In the MSU/PSU game, Martone picked up another assist on a mini-breakaway where he either put the puck off Penn State’s goalie’s skate, or left it around the crease, purposefully pulling the netminder and pursuing defender to the right, allowing teammate Charlie Stramel to bang it home. Either way, two points less than halfway through the game, which also features star prospect Gavin McKenna, who picked up the secondary assist on Penn State’s first goal, before tying the game with a goal of his own.
What I want to see next period: First of all, I hope to see Zegras on the ice and moving well, as he was taken down from behind as he was attempting to tip in a pass in front of the crease in the closing seconds of the period. It could not have been more obvious, with the Kings’ defender’s stick coming up underneath Zegras leg and lifting it, dumping Zegras into Kuemper. He was slow to get up as the period ended. After that, let’s get this game tied and figure out a way to win the day before the whole organization meets up with the fanbase at the Flyers Charities Carnival.
Third period
Highlight: Travis Konecny stays hot and ties the game, continuing to power this Flyers offense with his eight goal in the last eight games, and fifth in the last three, tipping a Rasmus Ristolainen one-timer for his 22nd of the season. The teams played even the rest of the way, with shots 6-5 for the Kings in the period, and 21-20 Flyers regulation.
Overtime
With the game on his stick, TK got a breakaway in OT and rang it off the post. DAMMIT!
That was, unfortunately, the only puck possession the Flyers picked up in the 3v3 and the Kings were able to convert their best scoring chance, with Quinton Byfield beating Vladar for the game-winner.
Final note: This team has to expend so much energy chasing games because of their slow starts it’s killing them. If they could just hold it together in the first 10 minutes, their playoff chances would not look so slim. But that is who they are.
3 Comments
Mark Evans
Ok….it is time we hear from Michkov himself. We have listen to the team and it’s surrogates (not the best reporters) say and whisper about him so it is time we hear from him. And, if the Flyers will not make him available, I would think a reporter would contact his agent. If his agent refuses to speak up, fine – but tell us that too. Something is seriously wrong and the “new era of transparency” is clearly not happening either. I get it that no team wants to conduct its affairs in public. But people like me who pay big bucks and have for a long time deserve (I believe) some idea as to what the heck is going on. 10 minutes of ice time? 2 minutes in a tied 3rd period? Enough already….
David LaVeck
Well said, Bill, and I also appreciate the Martone notes! Man does this team like to start slow, they hate themselves it seems. Playing Michkov only 10 mins is criminal, something is really wrong with this team. They are not making the playoffs, play the young guys and develop already…
reyo
Tocchet, who stated earlier in the season that he would have a good gauge of the team by the end of December, has the team regressing with no discernable plan for improvement. Briere needs to lean on his coach and make it clear to him that Michkov needs to play, regardless of physical condition. Not doing so risks the loss of both Michkov’s confidence, but also his allegiance to playing for the Flyers.