Watch PHLY Flyers postgame
The Philadelphia Flyers dominated for much of the first 40 minutes, scoring three unanswered goals after the San Jose Sharks got their first shot on goal nearly 12 minutes into the first period.
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Despite a lighter workload in the first few periods, Dan Vladar once again performed well, making a huge stop in the second period to maintain the lead.
But the highlight of the night was the fourth line and Carl Grundstrom, who was on the ice with Garnett Hathaway and Rodrigo Abols for a goal, the fourth line’s first goal of the season. It’s so hot!
It wasn’t the most intense third quarter, but Travis Konecny, who had scored his 500th career point with an assist earlier, sealed the win with an empty-net goal, giving the Flyers another bounce-back victory after a loss.
Issue 1
The Flyers got off to a fast start with Macklin Celebrini getting on the ice with a couple of shots and chances, then on the next shift birthday boy Matvei Michkov nearly committed a costly turnover in the game but then had a breakaway opportunity that was denied under heavy pressure in the chase.
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Ty Murchison handled the puck a lot in his first shift, but I think it’s cool for the fifth-round draft pick to wear #96 on his sweater. Murchison posted his first career numbers on his first shift, having a shot blocked.
Is Celebrini off the ice? He played two of the first five minutes of the game.
By 6:20, it was 6-0 to the Flyers, despite the Sharks hitting the puck against the post. Ryan Reaves is also in the lineup and faces 6-foot-1, 212-pound prospect Murchison, who doesn’t back down from one of the top heavyweights in the league. Normally, I would expect a matchup between Reeves and Nick DeLauriers at some point, but “unfortunately” Carl Grundstrom is wearing the D-Lo spot on the fourth line tonight.
The trio of Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny were applying pressure with some nice passes, creating a few chances near the midway point of the first, with Noah Cates on the line picking up Zegras The break in the defense has created some chances up front, but San Jose netminder Alex Nedeljkovic has been strong so far, recording nine saves in just over 10 minutes.
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The Sharks struck first with the first goal of the game. After Will Smith rounded the penalty area and fed Klingberg, a low breakdown allowed a largely uncontrolled Colin Graf to bury a one-time shot from the left circle on a pass from John Klingberg. The heavy passing game kept the Flyers off balance and now trailed 1-0 after dominating the first half.
Of course, I have to mention the first-down statistic – this is the 19th time Philadelphia has given up a first-and-goal in a game, and they’re 10-6-2 (.611 points percentage) in their first 18 games. It was the 16th time in 31 games that San Jose has scored first. The Sharks were 10-3-2 when they took the game lead.
Pekuoooo! With 3:50 left in the game, Nikita Grebenkin had some very strong rebounds from Timothy Liligren in the low post in the offensive zone. Zegras had one or two chances, most notably a shot from Owen Tippett after receiving a pass from Zegras at the goal line, but the ball caught the defender’s stick and went wide. In the second half, the Cates had several chances, but Nedelkovic equalized the score again!
Christian Dvorak scores a draw! DeVoe hit the ball hard in the neutral zone to create a brief break for himself and opted for a forehand and backhand move on his signature pass to tie the game with his seventh score of the season. Not long ago, Smith was stopped by Vladar on a breakaway, and TK flipped the puck into the neutral zone. The puck hit Zegras in the back and bounced to the charging Dvorak. Konecny received a second assist, which was his 500th career point.
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At the end of this quarter, the fourth line received a hook penalty, and the Flyers opened the middle frame with manpower advantage.
Second issue
Tonight’s color commentator Scott Hartnell (Brian Boucher), likely fulfilling his TNT duties, noted that Michikoff wasn’t on the bench or playing with his usual power-playing self when the second period began. Definitely a problem. According to some tweets, he is undergoing repairs in the locker room and will be back. Phew!
The free throws ended, but Philadelphia continued to press and had the score at 20 SOG less than three minutes into the game.
Fourth line goal! Nick Seeler fired a puck into the Sharks’ net and Grundstrom managed to hit the puck with his stick while skating, and all three members of the fourth line (Grundstrom, Rodrigo Abols and Garnet Hathaway) were +1 for the first time this year. Sealer and Travis Sanheim got assists, but it happened! Scored in the fourth quarter and the Flyers led 2-1. Long live!
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Some truly chaotic moments in the D for the Phillies led to Celebrini nearly tying the game as Vladar arrived late, but the 19-year-old star failed to hit the target. Celebrini nearly took Emile Andre off his skates early on and then sent the puck back to the other side of the ice without causing any damage. Although San Jose did pick up a bit since the Orange and Black took the lead.
Oh, Michkov is officially back, changing shift at 4:30.
The fourth line started strong on the next shift with more offensive pressure, but then they were stuck in the defensive zone until Vladar was able to catch and freeze the puck.
With 11:04 left in the game, TK was whistled for a PK for hooking. The Flyers have struggled somewhat with the kill, ranking 31st in the league (68.8%) since Nov. 15 and allowing five straight games. Philadelphia shot 19.1% overall (14th) against the Sharks in the victory, but shot 25.6% (7th) on the road heading into tonight’s game.
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The Flyers led 24-9 with 4:14 left in the game, but the game was much closer in the quarter, with Philadelphia leading 8-6 in the second quarter.
Vladar made a big stop in the 2-on-1 to keep the lead with about 3:30 left! Philadelphia then had the puck on the ice, but they were stranded deep after one chance, and it all fell to Vladar, who made his ninth save of the game. Another huge stop in the final minute, there was a chance for a low shot but Vladar flicked out to deny the equalizer.
With 10.9 seconds left in the game, Cates rewritten the score to 3-1! Cates caught a rushing pass from Bobby Brink and beat Nedeljkovic with a wrister in the left circle. This is how you support your goalie! Jamie Drysdale serves as secondary helper.
That was it in the second game, with the Flyers up by two points and holding a 26-11 shooting advantage. The Flyers are having trouble protecting their lead, so the third quarter will be a big test for the young and dynamic Sharks, who won’t worry too much but push the offense.
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The third issue
The Flyers froze the puck just 45 seconds into the game. I hate it. They won the tie but took a long time to break it off and ended up just clearing the shark and then breaking back in and after trying to clear the boards they froze again. They finally broke through and survived a hesitant start to the third quarter. After the third ice, they turned the puck over in the back of the net and Vladar had to make another big save on Ty Dradria.
If the Flyers continue to play like they’re afraid to handle the puck, unless Vladar goes into Hasek mode, we’re going to have another overtime game. They ran the ball well all night and moved the ball well, but the first eight or nine minutes of the third quarter were the exact opposite.
San Jose had 8:03 left in the game when Michkov rushed into the penalty area and defended high. ah. He won’t be back on the ice tonight. Huge carnage! Hathaway may have gotten away with it on Celebrini, but he did a superb job keeping the Sharks off the board and maintaining a two-goal lead. There are now less than six minutes left.
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San Jose cleared the net and allowed an extra attacker to win with less than four minutes left in the game. The Flyers immediately forced a turnover, cleared the puck the length of the ice, but missed the empty net and iced it. Some great work from Michikoff ensuring the puck left the zone after the faceoff without freezing.
Philadelphia has only managed 1 SOG this period, but as the Sharks push forward, Vladar has only been asked for four saves so far, and he’s made them all. With 3 minutes and 22 seconds left in the game, the score was still 3-1. I shouldn’t be as nervous as I am, but ball control has been in doubt and the possibility of Celebrini heroics remains. Some failed clearances allowed Celebrini to reduce the lead with a spot-on shot, but Vladar saved a shot smartly.
After a near miss in an empty net, Celebrini was brought down in the slot and slid into Vladar, but Vardar popped up. On the ensuing faceoff, the Flyers exploded, and after TK’s pass to Zegras failed, he got the puck back and scored himself. Phew!
Well, that was enough, a nice win for the Flyers, who continue to impress, especially after the loss.
Watch PHLY Flyers postgame
