Instant reactions: Trevor Zegras powers Flyers to shootout win over Islanders

Watch PHLY Flyers postgame

First period

Travis Sanheim takes the Flyers first penalty, a ticky-tack “holding” call for using his freehand, briskly, against Anthony Duclair. Yes, Duclair went down way too easy, but Philly has been using their free hands and sticks to defend far too much. The penalty kill comes through once again, but they’re spending far too much time short-handed.

The Flyers get a power play of their own midway through the first, and give up a short-handed goal after Matvei Michkov forces a pass to Owen Tippett in the slot, but the Isles check Tippett and take it the other way for a shortie to go up 1-0. The Flyers power play has now scored three times and been scored against twice.

Michkov has not looked good in this first period. Mishandling pucks, turnovers, bad passes. We thought he played well despite not picking up a point on Thursday, but he has not continued building upon a decent game to this point today.

Garnet Hathaway laid a nice hit on Casey Cizikas and then bloodied Scott Mayfield in the ensuing fight. Let’s see if that can wake up the offense. They’re getting shots and chances, but not capitalizing on rebounds or reacting quite quickly enough, carrying the puck too deep or waiting half-a-second too long to make the shot/pass decision.

The Flyguys controlled play for a lot of the first, but just couldn’t finish on a goal. We’re now at 79:31 of game time since their last goal.

Second period

The Flyers controlled a lot of the first 3-4 minutes again, just missing on a few chances and eventually drew a power play when Tony DeAngelo cross-checked Michkov behind the net, and the power play immediately surrendered possession and gave up some short-handed chances. Luckily the Isles didn’t get a second SHG, but shortly after the kill Noah Juulsen tried to reverse a puck behind his net to Jamie Drysdale but it bounced off an official right out front and Duclair made it 2-0. Bad luck, but the PK gained momentum for NYI and the Flyers were stuck on defense after the goal, as well.

Feels like a lot of the building’s energy was drained by the second goal.

TREVOR ZEGRAS TO CHRISTIAN DVORAK! Dvorak finishes a great passing sequence from Michkov and Zegras to pull the Flyers within one! That’s the type of explosiveness we need to see from this line on a more regular basis, and the first Flyers goal since the 29-second mark of the first period on Thursday. Was that a no-look pass from Z?

New York has kind of taken over, despite a few rush chances, the Isles have had the puck on offense for a lot of time since Dvorak’s goal. With seven minutes left, the Flyers had a 16-9 shot advantage. The period ended with the Islanders up 17-16 in shots and 2-1 on the scoreboard.

Philly once again has a chance to win this game in the third period, but they’ve got to execute in the offensive zone. They’re not playing poorly, but the offense has to get more chances with the possession time they’ve had. Maybe this is where Michkov really gets back on track. That’d be cool.

Third period

Gettin’ ZIGGY with it! Trevor Zegras ties the game on a feed from Dvorak, with Michkov driving to the net on the far side to draw the defense away from Zegras, who was trailing.

OH HELL YEAH! WE’VE GOT A MELEE! What started as a scrum turned into a mini-rumble. Not a line-brawl, but definitely some fireworks with pretty much all the skaters mixing it up. A bunch of penalties were called and it all ended up even , which is the right move. Temperatures heated up a bit, everybody go take a little break.

WTF just happened? The Islanders go up 3-2 off a faceoff win a point shot deflected in front by Maxim Tsyplakov to regain the lead. Dammit. Just when we start having some fun. But hey, a power play! We’re due, right?!

They were! It’s 3-3 after the Cates unit turns the crease into a Tush Push and poke the puck through. Right now it’s Zegras getting the credit but there were a lot of bodies and sticks in the area.

Down the other way Sam Ersson makes the save of the game with his blocker on an odd-man rush after Bo Horvat got away with an obvious penalty. Jim Jackson with the line of the day, “(Ersson) may have prevented a riot” by making the save and saving the referees from drawing more ire.

A Flyers/Islanders game going to overtime is really no surprise, but the game also being entertaining? That’s new and welcomed. I’m actually not even that upset we’ve got OT even though I’ve got a Halloween party I still need to get ready for.

Overtime

Foerster & Cates are the first forwards on the ice, quickly replaced by Tippett and Travis Konecny. I wonder if we see Michkov on the ice for the 3v3. Dvorak and Zegras take the ice after Ersson made a huge glove save on Bo Harvat after the officials ignored the Isles having four skaters on the ice.

Bobby Brink and Sean Couturier are out there now, still no sign of No. 39.

Michkov gets on the ice with Tippett, nearly have some chances but really don’t create anything.

Ersson with another huge save! He’s been clutch today. Definitely a candidate to be one of Charlie’s Stars of the Game.

OT ends without a goal, to the shootout we go!

Shootout

Zegras scores! It’s not a hat trick but it’s still dope. Ziggy is now 14-for-22 in his career. IN-f’n-SANE.

Michkov follows it up by shooting one far side on Sorokin, then Ersson stones Duclair to win it!

WOOOOOOOO!

PHLY Flyers Postgame