Instant reactions: Jamie Drysdale’s power play goal ends Flyers losing streak

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A couple days after Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet created a firestorm with his answers about Matvei Michkov at the Flyers Charities Carnival, the Orange & Black could really use an A+ effort to calm down a fuming fanbase and salivating media.

The game started well, with Michkov picking up an assist and helping to create Philly’s first goal, scored by Owen Tippett, after general manager Daniel Briere told the assembled media that Michkov is going to be a Flyer “for a long time” in an effort to quell the local reporters and fans.

And that’s exactly what they did, on the strength of a Jamie Drysdale power play goal with under six minutes left in regulation on Tuesday night. Not Philly’s best game of the year, but I think everyone will take it, after the way things have gone on Broad Street lately.

First period

Highlight: Owen Tippett scores the only goal of the period, taking the puck to the net and beating Clay Stevenson with a nice deke for his 19th goal of the season. The play began with Matvei Michkov carrying the puck behind the Capitals’ net, taking a pass from Trevor Zegras who entered the middle of the zone and backhanded it to Michkov on the left wing faceoff dot. Michkov skated around the net and out the other side, finding Travis Sanheim on the left point, and Sanheim wasted no time dishing back to Tippett low on the right side who finished the play. Michkov and all of Flyerdom needed a play like that.

What I want to see next period: A little more offensive pressure. While the Flyers lead 1-0, shots in the first were 11-7 in favor of the Caps, and Philly could really use some more sustained zone time. With Stevenson making the start after facing 30 shots last night, and this being his third start in four games, the Flyers could really test him with a lot of rubber in the second period.

Second period

Highlight: Well, Carl Grundstrom ended his 13-game goal drought with a pinball style goal, throwing a puck into the slot that found the back of the net after bouncing off some defenders. Oh, and Nic Deslauriers picked up his first point of the season on the goal, nabbing himself a primary assist. And the Caps got one back with a short-handed goal by Aliaksei Protas after Michkov got beat to a loose puck on the wall. But the highlight was Bobby Brink’s failed breakaway. Brink beat Stevenson, but caught the crossbar. The puck then bounced straight down, caught the left post, and hit the Washington netmider in the back before Stevenson was somehow able to swat the puck out of harm’s way, while it was still behind him. Wild.

What I want to see next period: MICHKOV! Matvei has played 10:59, and just got over six minutes of ice time in the middle frame. He’s on pace for one of his heaviest workloads of the season, and with the Flyers protecting a one-goal lead, it’s possible he could find himself on the bench quite a bit, like he did on Saturday (under three minutes in the third period vs. LAK). But I want to see what Michkov can do, and just how effective he can be despite his “lack of conditioning.”

Third period

Highlight: Jamie Drysdale, yes, JAMIE DRYSDALE, unleashed a slap shot from point, off a great play by Trevor Zegras to grab a puck in the right corner and use his body to ward off a defender before passing to his fellow-former Duck, to give the Flyers the 3-2 lead. AND IT WAS ON THE POWER PLAY! Since the Utah Mammoth game on January 21st, the Flyers power play is operating at 25% (6/24).

Final note: They needed this one. The Flyers had lost four straight. They’d lost six consecutively at home. They hadn’t beaten an Eastern Conference opponent in 11 tries. This was necessary, if for no other reason than to calm everybody down a little. Lower the temperature, play one more, and get to the break.

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