Instant reactions: Tyson Foerster scores in return, Flyers blow big opportunity in loss to Red Wings

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The Philadelphia Flyers got a huge boost to the Stanley Cup Playoff pursuit on Thursday, with the announcement Tyson Foerster would play for the first time since December first. Facing off with Wild Card rival Detroit Red Wings, the Orange & Black need all the help they can get to separate themselves from one of the teams they’re deadlocked with in the Eastern Conference standings.

For the 48th time in 75 games, the Flyers allowed the game’s first goal, but the returning Foerster erased the lead on the first shift of the second period, and despite entering the third trailing 2-1, it felt as if Philly could still take control of the final 20 minutes if they kept pressing and limited the Red Wings’ counter-rush chances.

Unfortunately, despite bringing it to 3-2 on a Travis Konecny deflection goal that gave Porter Martone his first career point, the Flyers BLEW IT immediately after, allowing the Red Wings to kill their momentum by adding a fourth goal 15 seconds later to deliver a huge blow to the Flyers’ playoff chances.

First period

Highlight: Porter Martone continued his play from the third period of Tuesday’s game, getting off a couple of shot attempts, including one on net. But it was the “cross-checking” penalty he got tagged with that began to get the Flyers’ bench hot. Martone joined a scrum a bit late in front of Sam Ersson and lightly bumped Lucas Raymond, and the officials took just one man out of the kerfuffle, the rookie. Luckily, the Flyers killed that penalty, but weren’t as fortunate when Sean Couturier got knocked down in traffic deep in the Detroit zone, getting his stick caught under Dylan Larkin on the way down, leading to a tripping call. The Red Wings took advantage of the power play, scoring the period’s only goal on a high-slot snapper by Alex DeBrincat off a deflected feed from Patrick Kane on the RW wall.

What I want to see next period: The Flyers played fine in the period. Despite the Wings getting the game’s only two power plays, shots on goal are tied at seven apiece. I want to see Philly test John Gibson’s five-hole after it was leaky in their last meeting. Luke Glendening almost scored going between the pads on a rush, with Gibson guessing high glove, but his stick just taking away enough to deny the bid.

Second period

Highlight: Tyson Foerster ties it up 31 seconds into the period, scoring in his first game back from an injury sustained on December 1st. Zegras had the puck deep and attempted to set Owen Tippett up with a one-timer, which he fanned on, but deflected directly to Foerster in the LW circle, and the Flyers’ sniper did not miss, netting his 11th of the year. HELL YEAH! The shift didn’t start great, with the Flyers on their heels in the D-zone for the first 20ish seconds of the period, but once they broke out, it was all gravy.

The secondary assist extends Zegras’ point streak to seven games (1G, 6A).

With under four minutes to go, the Martone & Co. were pressuring deep in the zone but a centering play got picked off, sending the Red Wings on a 2-on-1 with DeBrincat electing to rip a shot, but Ersson gloved it to stop the attack and send his team in the other direction. Ersson made another huge save when Jamie Drysdale got caught pinching, allowing JT Compher to get loose. Ersson made the initial save, but stuck in the defensive end, Detroit re-took the lead on Raymond’s 25th of the season.

What I want to see next period: After Foerster tied it early, it’s not like the Flyers didn’t get some chances, but they did get a little sloppy, although they really picked it up in the final five minutes. When you’re pressing for offense there’s always a chance you give something up the other way, and it’s not like the Flyers weren’t looking dangerous, but ultimately Detroit took advantage on the counter, and now Philadelphia has to come from behind in the third.

Third period

Highlight: F’n Patrick Kane puts the Wings up 3-1, scoring short-side on Ersson on an odd-man rush midway through the period as the Flyers had been pressuring the hell out of Gibson and Detroit. The Flyers are out-shooting their wild card rivals 12-2 in the period, but they haven’t had an answer for Detroit’s supposedly dead-tired goaltender, or the Red Wings’ counter-attacks. DAMMIT!

Porter Martone, on what appeared to be his ninth shot of the game finally beats Gibson with Travis Konecny driving the net and Jacob Bernard-Docker driving him into the crease, but it was initially waved off for goalie interference, despite TK making contact with Gibson AFTER the puck entered the net. Upon review, it was determined the puck went in off Konecny and over the line before the contact, which was Detroit’s fault anyway, and we have a 3-2 game! Oh, hell… DeBrincat scores 15 seconds later to restore the two-goal lead and this is the most heartbroken I’ve been in years. DAMMIT!

Final note: This loss is a killer. Detroit and Ottawa, who beat the Buffalo Sabres tonight, both move two points up on Philly with seven games left… DAMMIT!

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