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Quick Hits: Prospects, Flyers Prep for Worlds and More |
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PROSPECT UPDATE: LINDBLOM & SANDSTRÖM TEAM DROP GAME 6
A late rally by Brynäs IF Gävle fell short as HV71 Jönköping forced a seventh and deciding game for the Swedish Hockey League championship with a 5-3 victory in Gävle in Game 6 on Thursday. With their goalie pulled for most of the final 10 minutes of the game, Brynäs turned a 4-0 deficit to a 4-3 game. Finally, HV71 scored an empty netter to seal the win.
Flyers goaltending prospect Felix Sandström, coming off a 24-save shutout in Game 5, got the start in net for Brynäs but lasted just 9:10 and five HV71 shots into the first period. At 5:35 of the first period, a fluky power play goal on a Kristofer Berglund gave Jönköping a 1-0 lead. Not realizing the puck was arriving in his pads, Sandström popped up to a standing position. The puck then squeezed through the pads and trickled into the net.
At the 9:10 mark, Simon Önerud scored his 9th goal of the playoffs on a backhander from the right slot. HV71 head coach Thomas Berglund made a goalie switch at that point, pulling Sandström and sending in veteran David Rautio.
Things got worse, as BIF shortly thereafter yielded a shorthanded goal by Anton Bengtsson that dug a 3-0 hole just 11:05 into the game. It started with a lost faceoff in the offensive zone, a misplay at the blueline and Rautio giving up a lot of net as he was beaten to the long-side as he moved across the crease. Brynäs spent the rest of the game in an uphill climb. Former New Jersey Devils forward Mattias Tendenby made it 4-0 in the middle stages of the second period in a power play goal in a puck battle in the crease. Tendenby jarred the puck loose from Rautio's pads and then stashed it home.
Flyers left wing prospect Oskar Lindblom was held off the scoresheet for the fifth straight game. However, the Brynäs forward was in the middle of no fewer than a half dozen scoring chances, setting up a pair of prime scoring chances for teammates, registering five shots on goal and re-directing a pair of point shots just wide of the net. He was also credited with a pair of hits in 19:59 of ice time. Lindblom was minus-one (Oscar Sundh's empty netter in the final 17 seconds) for the game.
Game 7 will be on Saturday in Jönköping. In addition to Flyers prospects Lindblom and Sandström, Bucks County native defenseman Ryan Gunderson plays for Brynäs.
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CARLSON HOCKEY GAMES: FIVE FLYERS IN ACTION
The first two games of the Carlson Hockey Games round robin preparation tournament for the upcoming IIHF World Championships took place on Thursday in Sweden and the Czech Republic. Five Flyers players were in action for their national teams.
In Stockholm, Team Sweden overcame a 3-1 deficit in the third period to defeat Team Russia by a 4-3 count in overtime. Gabriel Landeskog netted the game-winner after third period power play goals by John Klingberg and Linus Omark knotted the score at 3-3. Elias Lindholm also scored for Tre Kronor. Sergei Mozyakin scored even strength and power play goals for Russia, who also got a first period goal by Victor Antipin. Eddie Läck (22 saves on 25 shots) took the win in goal against Andrei Vasilevskiy (16 saves on 20 shots).
Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov skated on Russia's second pairing, partnered with Andrei Mironov. Wearing uniform No. 29, Provorov was on the ice for Omark's game-tying power play goal midway through the third period. Flyers checking forward Roman Lyubimov skated on Russia's fourth line. Neither Philadelphia player recorded a point.
In Ceske Budejovice, Team Czech Republic trailed Team Finland by an early 2-0 score but came back to earn a 3-2 regulation win. Former Flyers forward Mika Pyörälä opened the scoring for the Finns, who later got a Miro Aaltonen goal. The Czechs responded with a latter first period goal by Roman Cervenka, a mid-second period power play marker by Jan Rutta, and the eventual game winner by Robin Hanzl at 5:06 of the third period. Harri Säteri stopped 36 of 39 shots in a losing cause, while Petr Mrazek stopped 27 of 29 shots.
Flyers right winger Jakub Voracek earned an assist on the Cervenka goal and took a third period holding penalty that the Czechs killed off successfully. Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas was plus-one for the game and tangled with Oscar Osala on coincidental roughing minors late in the middle stanza. Flyers forward Valtteri Filppula centered the top line for Finland, flanked by Jesse Puljujärvi and Sebastian Aho.
On Saturday, Russia plays Finland while Sweden takes on the Czech Republic. All remaining games will be played at Budvar Arena in Ceske Budejovice.
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QUICK HITS
1) When the Lehigh Valley Phantoms take the ice on Saturday for Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Hershey Bears, Mark Dekanich will be the backup goaltender for fellow Reading Royals callup Martin Ouellette. Eighteen-year-old prospect Cart Hart, who backed up Ouellette on Wednesday, will not dress for the game. The Phantoms called up Dekanich from Reading on Thursday.
The 30-year-old Dekanich spent most of the 2016-17 season in the ECHL with the Royals. He posted a 21-12-1 record, 3.04 GAA and 0.910 SV%. In the playoffs, he was Reading's best player in a first-round loss in six games to the Brampton Beast (1.62 GAA, .954 SV%).
Back in 2010, Dekanich played in seven Calder Cup playoff games as a member of the Milwaukee Admirals, winning three games with a 2.79 GAA and .909 save percentage.
2) The Flyers made official on Thursday that the club has signed 2015 fourth-round pick Mikhail Vorobyov to an entry-level contract. The now 20-year-old center is likely to play for the Phantoms next season.
3) Another Flyers 2015 fourth-rounder, Samuel Dove-McFalls, is still playing in the QMJHL playoffs. His Saint John Sea Dogs team is tied, two games apiece, in their semifinal series with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Game 5 is on Friday at Harbour Station in Saint John. For the playoffs to date, shutdown center Dove-McFalls has posted six points (two goals, four assists) in 12 games. Flyers 2016 first-round pick German Rubtsov, who plays for Chicoutimi, was shut down for the season weeks ago after undergoing hand surgery.
4) Flyers 2016 third-round pick Carsen Twarynski is also still going in the playoffs. The Kelowna Rockets left winger has five points (three goals, two assists) and 15 penalty minutes in 14 games to date. The Rockets are tied, two games apiece, in their semifinal series with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Game 5 is on Friday in Seattle.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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