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Wrap: Point(s) Slip Away Again, Flyers Lose 3-2 to Vegas

March 12, 2018, 11:15 PM ET [401 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
WRAP: POINT(S) SLIP AWAY AGAIN, FLYERS LOSE 3-2 TO VEGAS

For the second time in three games, the Philadelphia Flyers had at least one point within their sights only to give up a late goal and come away empty handed. The Flyers fell to 1-5-1 in the month of March with an extremely frustrating 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at the Wells Fargo Center on Monday night.

Playing a Vegas team that was at the end of a lengthy road trip, the Flyers took the play to the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights for much of the game but especially in the second period. Twice trailing by one goal, the Flyers battled back to knot the score.

"We didn’t get two points and that’s what matters, right? I guess [re-tying the game in the third] really doesn’t matter here. We gotta make sure we’re playing the full 60, play however many minutes if it’s not 60 it’s not good enough," Simmonds said.

Dating back to the team's 1-0 shootout win in Montreal, the Flyers have scored no more than two goals in seven of their last eight games: 1-0 SO win in Montreal, 4-1 home loss to Carolina, 7-6 shootout loss to Tampa, 4-1 loss to Florida, 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh, 3-2 loss to Boston, 2-1 win vs. Tampa and this one against Vegas.

Marc-Andre Fleury notched his 400th career regular season win. The veteran goalie stopped 38 of 40 shots, including multiple tough opportunities.

Ultimately, the Flyers lost this game in regulation because their third line got outworked by Vegas on a fateful late-game shift in which Philly ended up scrambling in the defensive zone. There was a failed clear by Valtteri Filpppula, a lost 50-50 puck battle involving Wayne Simmonds and poor coverage as the puck came out. The result was a glove side goal by Ryan Carpenter (8th of the season) off a pass from ex-Stars center Cody Eakin. Ex-Flyer Pierre-Edouard Bellemare also assisted.

“On the last goal, we didn’t get a puck out. We got caught on the outside of coverage," Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said.

Philly's penalty kill had been taking steps forward of late, despite yielding once apiece to the Penguins and Jets. On this night, the Flyers were unable to get zone clears and had some puck luck go against them as well. Philadelphia went 0-for-2 on the kill, which accounted for a pair of one-goal deficits. Erik Haula (25th goal of the season) and William Karlsson (36th) scored.

On the other hand, the power play showed some progress from recent games. Both units generated good looks at the net and there was a great chance to forge ahead on a power play shortly after the game was tied at at 2-2 by Wayne Simmonds (22nd goal of the season). Jakub Voracek (59th assist of the season) and Shayne Gostisbehere (41st) collected assists. Overall, Philly went 1-for-4.

The Flyers came out storming in the second period with back-to-back excellent shifts. The latter resulted in a game-tying goal potted by Claude Giroux (25th of the season). Sean Couturier got his 35th assist of the season, while Travis Konecny go his 20th.

Petr Mrazek had some rebound control issues early in the game and a variety of nerve-racking moments later. The first Vegas power play goal deflected in off the goalie's stick as he tried to deny a cross-crease pass. The second power play goal was off a tough-to-control rebound on a bouncing puck. The final one was a very tough chance and more about poor coverage and an excellent shot. Overall, he stopped 26 of 29 shots.

"I just tried to cut the pass," Mrazek said of the first goal. "It hit the edge of my stick and went in. I think that was a bad bounce because so many times you want to cut the pass. It just hit the edge of my stick and went in."

Any time a winnable game gets away, but especially one down the stretch against a quality opponent, it stings. When it happens twice in three games, it's a very bitter pill to swallow.

"We’ve seen this story before. Frustrating. Played a hell of a game. We played the way we wanted to. Everybody was going. Couple minutes left and they find a way to put it in so it’s definitely frustrating," Giroux said.

The Flyers captain could only manage a nod when asked if this outcome brought back the feeling of the Boston game after the team bounced back by beating Winnipeg.

Added Couturier, "Whatever the score is you want to play the same way. Our way. You want to establish goals on time, keep the puck, have good time of possession. Then, when you don’t have it, you want to be tight and be aware. Just a little break and they are opportunists and that’s the things that happen."

Rookie left winger Oskar Lindblom, now pointless in 11 games, was in the thick of three or four excellent scoring chances but remained almost ridiculously snakebitten. One of Fleury's toughest saves of the game was a bang-bang chance in front for Lindblom.

"I didn’t really expect it then I saw the puck hanging there, trying to get away as fast as possible, I thought it went in, but it didn’t, so just have to keep going," Lindblom said. "I’m getting chances. I just have to keep going here. Not trying to be too negative. I feel like I am playing good."

Lost in the shuffle of the game was an outstanding performance in all three zones by Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov. He showed a strong defensive stick, boxed out extremely well, made some excellent breakout passes, joined the rush up ice with confidence and even skated a puck out of danger all the way to the Vegas blueline. He skated 23:25 of ice time.

Rookie defenseman Travis Sanheim played a strong game overall in 14:16 of ice time, especially on a couple of good pinches. He also showed a bit more physicality and was credited with three hits. He wasn't mistake free -- a careless high sticking penalty in front of the net led to Vegas' 2-1 go-ahead power play goal in the third period and he also lost a battle near the left point where he let the puck get past him for a counter chance that, fortunately for the Flyers, was broken up in the defensive zone.

The Flyers won 60 percent of the faceoffs in the game (36 for 60), led by Filppula winning 12 of 13 draws (92 percent). Credited hits were 26-19 in Vegas' favor (Radko Gudas and Vegas' Brayden McNabb and Ryan Reaves all had four apiece) and Vegas blocked 16 shots to 11 shots blocked by the Flyers.

1ST PERIOD SYNOPSIS

The teams traded off a shot apiece in the opening minute. Mrazek left out a fat rebound on a long-range Eakin shot but no harm resulted. At the other end, Gostisbehere put a shot on net and then, on a better scoring chance with heavy traffic in front, whistled a shot just wide.

Oskar Lindblom won a battle on the walls and fed Nolan Patrick for a one-timer from the right circle. One shift later, Fleury denied a routine shot by Matt Read from the top of the right circle.

Ivan Provorov joined a rush and was denied by Fleury from the deep left slot. Shots were 4-1 Flyers through 4:00.

The Golden Knights got the game's first power play at 4:27 as the Flyers were called for too many men on the ice. The defense cleared the rebound of a Colin Miller shot from up high. Radko Gudas took out three Vegas players on a battle on the boards and cleared the puck. Alex Tuch was denied in close on a backhander. David Perron fired point blast that Mrazek absorbed with no rebound. Perron won the ensuing right circle draw against Sean Couturier and that started a sequence that ended in a goal that made it 1-0.

Haula attempted a cross-ice pass near the crease and the puck deflected into the net off Mrazek's poorly positioned stick. The assists went to Perron and Schmidt at 6:17.

Karlsson got open in the left slot and narrowly missed re-directing a cross-ice pass home with Mrazek unable to get there in time.

Giroux went to the net and drew a hooking penalty on Shea Theodore at 9:30. The Flyers went on their first power play. A couple of point shots by Gostisbehere -- one of which sent Vegas forward Tomas Nosek limping off the ice -- got blocked before the Flyers switched power play units. Mrazek came out to play a flip down the ice, and near disaster resulted as he stickhandled. Finally, the goalie was able to fall on top of the puck.

After the penalty ended, Konecny put a puck at the net that Couturier nearly directed home.

A great lead pass sent Brandon Manning and Jakub Voracek in on a 2-on-1 attack. The Flyers did not get a shot out of it. On his next shift, Voracek created a scoring chance for Lindblom. Moments later, a shot attempted caromed over the net and nearly deflected in off Fleury's back. Shots were 8-6 Vegas with 3:41 left in the period.

The Flyers worked a nicely executed low-to-high play, with Andrew MacDonald firing a point shot on net that squirted in front on a rebound with Valtteri Filppula lurking. Fleury covered it just in time with 1:40 left in the period.




2ND PERIOD SYNOPSIS

The Filppula line opened the period with a strong shift, including a wraparound chance for Raffl and then a two-shot sequence with a rebound crack in front for Simmonds. The top line followed that up by tying the game at 1-1.

At 1:27, Giroux took a feed into the left circle from Couturier and rifled a tracer high to the glove side over Fleury. Couturier and Konecny got the assists.

Lindblom outworked a defender in front and had a chance in close but was denied. Later in the shift, Patrick was dazed as he went in to check ex-Flyer Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and took a shoulder hit. Patrick went back to the bench and then went up the tunnel (presumably for concussion testing).

MacDonald was swarmed by three Golden Knights at the blueline, losing the puck for a 3-on-1 opportunity against Sanheim. Mrazek made a huge save on Haula at 4:30. Shots were 5-2 Flyers.

Laughton took Patrick's spot on the second line. Patrick returned to the bench several minutes later.

The Flyers got their second power play at 6:55. Jonathan Marchessault was called for an offensive zone high stick. The top unit generated good puck movement and a scramble around the net with Couturier whacking away. Patrick was out for the latter part of the power play with the second unit.

In a very similar sequence to the first period, Provorov joined the attack for a chance in the deep left slot. Fleury fought it off.

Lindblom made a nice defensive play. At the other end, Voracek had his third scoring chance of the game. He was robbed by Fleury's glove. A TV timeout ensued at 11:22. Shots were 10-3 Flyers.

Bellemare fired a rising wrist shot from high in the zone. Mrazek was beaten but the puck clanged off the pipe. The Flyers got away with a couple of turnovers on two subsequent shifts, but anxious moments ensued.

Pushing and shoving ensued as Laughton followed a puck to the net that Fleury covered. He took exception to some rough treatment by Deryk Engelland at the whistle. Things settled down quickly with no penalties.

Off a faceoff win in the left, Travis Sanheim skated down toward the corner and fed in front for Patrick. Fleury denied him and then a follow-up attempt by Lindblom.

Provorov again joined the rush and set up a chance that narrowly missed connections with Konecny.




3RD PERIOD SYNOPSIS

The Giroux line started the period with strong forechecked. The shift ended when a puck went off Gostisbehere's skate at the blueline and he brought it back in off-side. On the next shift, Simmonds was knocked down just as he received a Raffl pass. F

Mrazek sealed off the short side post and stopped a side-angle shot and follow up try for a stoppage at 2:21.

Couturier won a battle in the right corner and center to a pinching Sanheim in the mid left slot. Fleury snapped the shot up with his glove. At 4:30, Sanheim was called for a high-stick in front of the Flyers net. The Golden Knights got away with a blatant stick hold on Couturier, but he managed to get the puck up ice to Giroux, who went in and nearly scored. A bit of quick whistle also worked in Vegas' favor with Giroux digging at the puck.

With 30 seconds left in the penalty, a bouncing puck in front rebounded off Mrazek to an an open Karlsson in the right slot. He potted it for a 2-1 lead. Ex-Flyers preseason invitee Tomas Hyka and Marchessault got the assists at the 6:00 mark.

Voracek wheeled out from the left corner over the middle and was hooked by Brayden McNabb. The Flyers went on their third power play at 6:31. The Flyers cashed in after Giroux gained the zone and the first power play unit got set up. Near the left post, Simmonds took a feed from Voracek and squeezed a rising shot home. The secondary assist was credited to Gostisbehere at 7:06.

Giroux and Konecny had a 2-on-1 rush. Giroux found Konecny with the puck but the chance went awry when Konecny unwisely tried to make a drop pass.

The Flyers went back to the power play at 8:35 on a Karlsson tripping penalty. Fleury nicely tracked a Gostisbehere point shot through traffic with 1:19 left on the power play. The second unit generated some good looks but nothing on net.

Mrazek made two saves -- a wrister from Tuch and a rebound followup by Marchessault -- to keep the game tied at 2-2.

Sanheim let a puck get past him at the left point for a dangerous Vegas rush the other way. MacDonald broke up the play. Then Read blocked a shot out of play for a TV timeout at 14:50. Shots were 11-10 Vegas.

Provorov wheeled a puck out of danger and up ice. After Giroux lost a puck battle and play went back to the Philly end, he broke up a near scoring chance up front.

Filppula failed to clear a puck, to disastrous results as Vegas outworked the Flyers in 50-50 battles. Carpenter took a feed from Eakin and scored from the left slot. The secondary assist went to Bellemare as Vegas took a 3-2 lead at 17:20.

With 1:40 left, Mrazek was pulled for a 6-on-5 attack. Fleury cleared a puck over the glass -- it deflected, so there was no penalty -- with 1:02 on the clock. The Flyers called timeout. Philly pressed heavily and Simmonds chipped a puck over the net, and there was no equalizer.

Third period shots were 15-12 Flyers (40-29 Flyers overall).

STANDINGS IMPACT

The Columbus Blue Jackets earned a 5-2 win over the playing-out-the-string Montreal Canadiens on Monday. As a result, the Blue Jackets climbed back into the higher wildcard spot and moved within two points of the third-place Flyers. Philadelphia holds a 33-31 tiebreaker advantage and will still be in third place even if they lose head-to-head to the Blue Jackets when the teams play at the Wells Fargo Center in Thursday. Nevertheless, that match is shaping up to be a crucial game that could either enable the Flyers to re-stabilize themselves or wind up in a heap of trouble.

The Washington Capitals beat the Winnipeg Jets in overtime on Monday, 3-2. The Caps moved back into first place in the Metro, one point ahead of the idle Pittsburgh Penguins (plus a game in hand) and four points plus a game in hand ahead of the Flyers.

The New Jersey Devils, three points and a 33-30 ROW tiebreaker disadvantage behind the Flyers but with a game in hand, were idle on Monday. The team will be in Vegas on Wednesday to play the Golden Knights.

The Ottawa Senators scored a late third period goal to earn a 3-2 regulation win over the heretofore scorching hot Florida Panthers on Monday. Florida (31 ROW) trails New Jersey (30 ROW) by three points, the Blue Jackets (31 ROW) by four points and the Flyers (33 ROW) by six points. Florida has two games in hand over New Jersey and three over the Blue Jackets and Flyers. The Panthers still have all four of their divisional games against Boston remaining on its schedule. The first will be in Sunrise on Thursday.
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