Instant reactions: Zegras point streak ends, Flyers fall 4-1 in Seattle

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The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t play a terrible game in Seattle on Sunday night, but couldn’t figure out how to solve Philipp Grubauer until Carl Grundstrom’s goal in the final two minutes to break the shutout.

Trevor Zegras saw his nine-game point streak come to an end, and the Kraken have won four straight after a 1-9-1 stretch. Weird game, not a great night for offense in Philadelphia sports, as it feels like everyone is still feeling a little Christmas hangover.

First period

With 12:20 left in the first period the Flyers’ fourth line applied some pressure, and after ample time to let go, the officials finally called Berkly Catton for holding Nikita Grebenkin. Philly got its second shot on goal during the delay and had a puck sit in the paint, but Seattle was able to play it clear and get the whistle for the penalty. Let’s see how the Flyers’ first crack at the league’s worst penalty kill goes.

“Everything but the finish” according to Jim Jackson. The Flyers got good possession and movement for most of the power play, and Philipp Grubauer made on huge stop on Travis Konecny off a cross-ice feed from Trevor Zegras, but weren’t able to score the game’s first goal. With a few seconds remaining Matvei Michkov got some room but elected a cross-ice pass to Sean Couturier which was a bit behind him, preventing what would have been a decent chance.

Denver Barkey puts the Flyers back on the power play with a tremendous effort, blocking a point shot and chasing it down, forcing Ryan Lindgren to wrap him up just as the rookie got a step and nearly a breakaway on Grubauer. This man advantage wasn’t quite as dangerous-looking, but still decent. However, the Orange & Black have been unable to break through against Seattle’s 70.3% PK.

After a little bit of a slow start offensively, Philadelphia has taken a 9-5 SOG advantage, thanks mostly to their four minutes of PP time. Five of Philly’s nine shots have come at 5v4. But outside of a 2-on-1 on which a puck eluded Shane Wright, the Flyers have had the puck for quite a bit of the last 15 minutes.

Dan Vladar hasn’t been especially busy, but four of his saves have come against Jared McCann and Eeli Tolvanen, with both of McCann’s coming from prime scoring position. Seattle actually got a flurry at the end of the period, but Vladar made every stop including on a blast from Ryan Lindgren. A last-ditch attempt was thrown towards the net and eventually bounced in, but the initial shot attempt came right at the buzzer, leaving little doubt the puck crossed the line far too late.

After 20 minutes, it’s 0-0, with the Flyers leading the shot battle 10-7.

Second period

Christian Dvorak almost got the scoring started as he charged towards the net while Konecny battled his way to carry the puck into the slot and feed it over to DVo, but it was poked just wide. Damn close, but then the Kraken came down the other way and worked the puck from Matty Beniers to Kaapo Kakko to Jordan Eberle in front, who buried it. Philly certainly had some chances, but Beniers was able to win a race to a loose puck in the neutral zone to get Seattle on the attack, and that put the Flyers on their heels.

The Flyers just really haven’t had much going offensively this period. We’re nine minutes in, and shots are now 12-12. A lot of neutral zone play all around, but I can’t say I’ve been inspired by anything Philly has done thus far.

Rasmus Ristolainen got a shot on goal with 6:43 left in the second, the Flyers’ first since before the 15-minute mark. But shortly after, the Flyers get a third power play opportunity when the Kraken get called for too many men. Barkey did some great work to create a chance late in the power play, but this advantage wasn’t especially interesting. Barkey got a shot of his own after the penalty expired, but Grubauer stopped it, as he has everything for over 35 minutes.

Philadelphia has upped the pressure in the final four minutes, but still can’t solve Grubauer. They just haven’t been able to string together passes to create A-chances for themselves this period. After forty minutes, it’s 1-0 Kraken, while SOGs are 18-14 in favor of Philly.

Third period

The Flyers have come out strong to start the third, with a few scoring chances for Sean Couturier, as well as the Michkov line. Now the fourth line is applying some pressure as three minutes have now elapsed. Philadelphia has a couple of shots and several scoring opportunities early this period, with Barkey a big factor in creating two or three of them, although the Flyguys still trail 1-0 with now over four minutes having been played.

But despite all the pressure, it’s Seattle that scores the game’s second goal, with Vladar attempting to play the puck behind the net from his crease, and Travis Sanheim getting beat to the puck, allowing Tolvanen to find Chandler Stephenson with a entering pass, and Stephenson finding the back of the net. The Flyers now trail by two with 14 minutes left.

We’re headed to a break with 5:13 left in regulation. The Flyers have hit Grubauer with 10 shots this period, but haven’t figured out to to put the puck behind him. Still 2-0. It just doesn’t feel like they’re going to get the sustained pressure to create a greasy goal and make this game particularly interesting.

With the net empty and three minutes remaining, Owen Tippett creates a nice chance for himself, but Grubauer snagged the attempt with ease. Shortly after, Stephenson and Tolvanen teamed up to make it 3-0 with an empty net goal. That should just about do it.

Ah, Carl Grundstrom breaks the shutout, scoring his sixth of the season in only his 11th game of the season. But then Tolvanen picks Grundstrom’s pocket on the next shift and buries another ENG. 4-1. Rough night.

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