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Wrap: Tampa Nips Flyers, 1-0 |
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Wrap: Tampa nips Flyers, 1-0
In a tight-checking game throughout, a single bounce of the puck determined the outcome as the Philadelphia Flyers fell, 1-0, Tampa Bay Lightning at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday evening. Tampa captured its 10th straight win, while the Flyers sustained just their third regulation home loss of the season.
The game was scoreless until 7:27 of the second period. On a goal scored immediately after exiting the penalty box, Pat Maroon (6th) scored the game's only goal on a puck that ended up at his feet in prime scoring range. Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen swatted at the puck and it ended up at the goal-scorer's feet.
Carter Hart stopped 27 of 28 shots for Philly. He was the more severely tested of the two goalies, primarily in the second period. Andrei Vasilevskiy earned a 23-save shutout. Most of his saves were routine, although he came with a huge stop in close on Travis Sanheim in the third period to keep his team ahead by a goal.
"We weren’t getting a lot behind their D," Kevin Hayes said.
"They were stubborn at their offensive blue line and we were having trouble getting behind their D. They were jamming it down our throats. Even though we were playing the right way defensively, we weren’t creating any offense."
The Flyers' special teams were a mixed bag. The penalty kill was excellent, going 4-for-4 with three first period kills including a stellar four-minute kill of a Travis Konecny high-sticking double minor.
For the last several games, Jakub Voracek has been deployed as the netfront forward on the top power play unit; the first time in the veteran's career that he's been asked to play that role. He was not in the mood to discuss it after the game.
"We don’t score much. We have to start scoring. I’m not talking about the power play, sorry," he said.
Philadelphia blocked 23 shots in the game, including 11 in the first period. They also outhit Tampa, 26-10. The Flyers are the No. 1 faceoff team in the NHL but only won 41 percent of the draws on this night, including Kevin Hayes going 3-for-10.
The Flyers got off to a, well, lightning fast start with a spectacular opening shift by Sean Couturier that set a positive tone for his team. Philly outworked the Lightning for the majority of the first period. The Flyers really made it tough for the Lightning to generate chances. Philly then had to kill six minutes worth of penalties -- including the Konecny double-minor -- and did it extremely well against a PK than entered the game clicking at a fearsome 29 percent for the season.
Hart (eight saves) stepped up big as needed. Tampa made a late push in the period but Philly survived it to take the game to the first intermission tied. The Flyers blocked 11 shot attempts by the Lightning, including five by Victor Hedman.
Tampa came out with more focus and energy in the second period than they did in the first. The Flyers spent much of the period hemmed in their own end. Hart was tested multiple times as he was peppered with 13 shots. The only goal of the frame was a fluky one.
As Maroon exited the penalty box with the game still scoreless, Anthony Cirelli flipped the puck high into the Flyers zone. Both Maroon and Matt Niskanen swatted at the bouncing puck and Niskanen wound up putting it directly to Maroon at point blank range.
"I'm trying to glove it to my partner and it got caught in my glove.That happens 50 times a year where I just bat it out of danger, and that one happened to get caught in my glove. It's my fault. But, tough play. Next time I will probably try to do the same thing and I will probably execute it," Niskanen said.
Hart put the blame on himself.
"To be honest, the puck was along the ice. I should have stopped that one. It was a weird bounce, and sometimes it just happens," Hart said.
Philly mustered only six shots on goal in the second period; none particularly dangerous except for a James van Riemsdyk look in close, with nothing to shoot at.
"We did a really good job in the first period of creating pace and speed and coming through the neutral zone," Scott Laughton said. "That second period, we watched them play and that’s what happens with a good team. They’re going to be in your zone most of the time and you’re not going to get a lot of shot opportunities.”
There wasn't much time or space for either team to operate in the third period. Sanheim's point-blank chance was the best one for either team.
"They played differently than they did in the past few years, that's for sure. There was not much room out there. They were pretty patient in the neutral zone. They were waiting for us and they have a lot of puck movement defensemen that are mobile with the puck," Voracek said.
"Every time we were dumping it in, or we chipped it in, they just turned around and made the play and then we had to backcheck. They played really well. There is a reason why they are the hottest team in the league right now."
At 14:25, Kevin Shattenkirk's accidental high stick on Konecny chipped the Flyer's tooth. The Flyers were unable to capitalize. Hart was pulled for an extra attacker but nothing much happened during the 6-on-5 attack.
The Flyers will have a complete off-day on Sunday. On Monday, they will have a morning skate before hosting the Boston Bruins in the evening.
Far more important than a hockey outcome, Flyers left winger Oskar Lindblom attended Saturday's game. In the first period, he was introduced to the crowd and received a lengthy standing ovation. Lindblom is currently undergoing treatment for Ewing Sarcoma; a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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