Watch PHLY Flyers postgame
The Philadelphia Flyers desperately need two points in the regular season to close the gap on the Columbus Blue Jackets who lead the standings. So, of course, the score was 1-1 after 60 minutes, so everyone got a point anyway!
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Alex Bump tied the game midway through the first period and was held scoreless since, although the game did become a bit contentious after Kirill Marchenko loaded Denver Barkey, Carl Grundstrom loaded (and with) Adam Fantilli and Damon Severson seemed obsessed with cross-checking Barkey.
But in the end, the Flyers didn’t have enough urgency to win this game in regulation, failing to score on a double mini-goal created by Buckey and ice on the fourth line in the final minute of the third quarter. Philadelphia pushed hard in the final 30 seconds of overtime, but lost in the shootout as Matvey Michkov, Trevor Zegras (!) and Travis Konecny all failed to beat Jeter Greaves, while Vladar held off Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli before Marchenko beat him for the win.
In a huge test of the orange and black’s ability to return to the playoffs, the Flyers simply weren’t good enough.
Issue 1
emphasize: Alex Bump’s second career goal tied the game midway through the first period! Kirill Marchenko gave Columbus the lead by taking advantage of a wild scramble in front of Dan Vladar, in which Travis Konecny kept the puck high in the game’s first five minutes, but Bump snagged his stick on Emil Andrae’s shot to end the game. The goal was not initially ruled on the ice and officials seemed to believe the goal simply hit the post, but upon further review, Bump’s deflection hit the left post and then hit the back-center crossbar of the net before bouncing back. We had a good goal (Jeff Marek yells).
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What I want to see in the next issue: The Flyers need to take the pressure. Philadelphia came out strong, despite conceding the ball for the 45th time in 65 games, but the Blue Jackets, the team the Flyers were trying to overtake in the Eastern Conference standings, took over as time expired. Columbus outgained Philadelphia 13-6 and outscored the home team 25-17, despite the Flyers getting the only power play of the game so far (without SOG’s personnel advantage). The Flyers desperately need to win this game in regulation to give themselves a chance, and things aren’t exactly going their way right now, but with the score tied, some good shifts at the start of the second quarter could turn things around quickly.
Additionally, Marchenko landed on Denver Buckey, who made a surprising return in the second period. I wouldn’t mind seeing Marchenko get his comeuppance at some point, though. Maybe through Nick Seeler or Nikita Greybenkin?
Second issue
emphasize: Denver Bucky! Buckey returned after the break and made his presence felt late in the period, leveling Damon Severson in the back of the Columbus net, and Severson retaliated with a cross-check. If that wasn’t enough, Severson followed Bucky to the net and continued his attack with his stick, earning him two minor penalties. The Flyers were on the power play when this happened but couldn’t take advantage of a few seconds of 5v3 time, but they would have over 3 minutes of power play time to take the lead in what was suddenly a very contentious game.
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What I want to see in the next issue: I want a few goals from the Flyers and then get out of this jam. The Blue Jackets have been teasing the undersized Bucky all night, and I would certainly like to see a little justice. Plus, a regulatory win.
The third issue
emphasize: The Glendstrom-Couturier-Glendening line changed in the final minute of a tie with their conference rivals and the Flyers trailing in the standings. Drawing against a team that’s four points ahead of you…genius! Regardless, we went to overtime for the 23rd time this season.
over time
There was little action in the 3v3 until Trevor Zegras broke past Matvei Michkov with 30 seconds left, but Michkov was blocked in the final minute by a defender on Jet Greaves and was unable to take a shot. Towards the end of the game, Zegras tried to pass Rasmus Ristolainen from behind the net to the short side, but Risto failed and we went to penalties.
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Final note: The Flyers’ power play is a joke. As much as we complain about Rocky Thompson, he never had Trevor Zegras, and the power play this year has been as bad, if not worse, than several of his units. With over 3 minutes and 30 seconds of power play time to start Game 3, a must-win game against a team they were chasing atop the conference standings, the Flyers did nothing. Unacceptable.
Watch PHLY Flyers postgame