|
Wrap: Flyers Stymie Habs, 3-1 |
|
|
|
|
|
FLYERS STYMIE CANADIENS, 3-1
Coming off one of their worst performances not only of the 2016-17 season but for several years, the Philadelphia Flyers climbed back on the horse to defeat the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1, at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night.
The Flyers trailed early before a Claude Giroux power play goal late in the second period knotted the score at 1-1. Matt Read, who had been goalless in 27 games, broke the deadlock early in the third period with a right-circle shot off the rush that beat Carey Price high to the long side. Sean Couturier later added an empty net tally. Nikita Nesterov scored the lone Montreal goal.
“It’s all about consistency in this league as individuals and as a team. I thought during that winning streak, 10 games, a lot of times we played that way. We were patient, we played smart, and we’re going to need that in the next few months in order to be successful because all the teams are going to grind. All the teams are going to play well defensively. You just can’t give up too many shots or too many opportunities," Flyers defenseman Mark Streit said.
After giving up five shots and spotting the Habs a 1-1 lead within the first 4:51 of the game, the Flyers held Montreal to 11 shots the rest of the way. The 16 shots Philly gave up to the Habs are season lows for both teams.
With the win, the Flyers improved to 16-7-3 on home ice this season. Thursday's game marked the start of a five-game homestand.
“I just thought it was a good all around effort. All the way through for a full 60 minutes and really in all three zones for all phases of the game it was a very good effort by the players," Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said.
“We’ve played pretty good hockey over the last couple of games save one hockey game, you know what I mean? We didn’t have a lot of energy obviously a couple of nights ago and beyond that we’ve been playing pretty good hockey. Tonight was just I think a simple game. You know starting well and absolutely sticking with it throughout the entire game. I don’t know that we really had a comeback instinct so to speak. It was a 1 nothing hockey game, we were generating some opportunities, it was just a tight game, and obviously the goal to tie it up on the power play was a big one to get the game evened up. “
In addition to playing well without the puck, the Flyers also managed the puck much better when they had it on their sticks. Moreover, Philly played more of a "go north" style game, which veteran defenseman Mark Streit said is a team strength as opposed to trying to play an east-west style. Philly also stayed out of the box, taking only one penalty (killed with relative ease) while going 1-for-3 on the power play.
While starting goaltender Michal Neuvirth wasn't tested often, he came up with several key stops on tough chances. Carey Price stopped 21 of 23 shots in a losing cause.
"Right from the forward to the defensemen, the whole team effort was the way you have to play in this league. That’s the way you have to play against Montreal," Neuvirth said.
Both Shayne Gostisbehere and Travis Konecny were healthy scratches for Philadelphia. Nick Schultz and Dale Weise entered the lineup.
The Canadiens owned the game's first five shots and grabbed a quick 1-0 lead at 4:51. Nesterov took a pass from Alex Galchenyuk and wired a point shot through a Dale Weise screen and past Neuvirth for his fourth goal of the season. Andrew Shaw received the secondary assist.
Philadelphia got the first period's next four shots, including a flurry in close, before the opening period reached its halfway mark. With time ticking down to the final 3:09 of the opening stanza, the Habs were still stuck on five shots as Price swallowed up a point shot for his seventh save.
The Flyers went to the game's first power play at 17:44 after a long delayed penalty as Torrey Mitchell tripped Brandon Manning behind the Philadelphia net.
Early in the advantage, Jakub Voracek was knocked down but managed to one-hand the puck on net. Price easily covered for a stoppage as Voracek looked at the referee. With 45 seconds left, Brayden Schenn took a pass from Giroux and one-timed a shot from the left hash marks. Price held again for a stoppage. The second unit came out but generated little pressure.
First period shots were 10-5 in the Flyers' favor.
Philly came out with good jump -- and a couple of good scoring chances -- early in the second period. Montreal went to its first power play at 6:27, as Chris VandeVelde was called for a slash. The Flyers killed the penalty in good shape.
Neuvirth denied a 2-on-1 rush at about the 12:30 mark. At the other end, Giroux nearly set up a slam dunk for Voracek but the play ended up being one pass too many. Shots through the first 12:49 were 5-3 for Montreal.
With 3:14 left in the second period, agitating Montreal forward Andrew Shaw was called for interference as he set a pick at the offensive blueline. Schenn narrowly missed the net on a deflection of a Mark Streit point shot in the opening seconds of the advantage. Simmonds was unable to pot the rebound of a Voracek right-circle one-timer off a Giroux feed, sending the puck back into Price.
Moments later, however, the Flyers rotated the puck up the right side of the boards and over to Giroux at the left point. Giroux fired a puck that hit Andrei Markov's stick, went through a Simmonds screen, off Price's glove and dribbled home. Streit and Schenn got the assists at 17:40 on Giroux's 12th goal of the season.
Second period shots were 7-6 in the Flyers' favor (17-11 Flyers overall).
Gudas broke up a potential 2-on-1 for Montreal with Giroux, playing up high to help out, beaten to the outside early in the third period.
Ending long goal-scoring drought, Read took a pass off the rush from Couturier and ripped a right circle shot past Price's blocker side at the 3:32 mark to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. Nick Cousins got the secondary assist on Read's seventh goal of the season.
Neuvirth protected the one-goal lead with a point-blank save (12th of the game) on Paul Byron shortly past the nine-minute mark.
On a play that arguably could have been ruled a penalty shot, Markov hooked Giroux on what looked like a clean breakaway and clearly prevented a prime scoring chance. Price made the save, but the Flyers went to their third power play of the game. They did not score.
At the end of a TV timeout, Neuvirth was still turned to the end boards with his glove off and stick atop the net as play resumed at center ice. No harm resulted. Shortly thereafter, he made a tough stop in close on Alexander Radulov.
Montreal got away with a bad turnover in dangerous territory as Weise, set up by Couturier, shanked his attempted shot. Third-period shots were 6-6 overall as time ticked down under four minutes. On an attempted stretch pass, Nesterov iced the puck with 2:44 remaining.
The Habs pulled Price for an extra attacker. Andrew MacDonald took an icing with 1:00 left on the clock, and Montreal called timeout before the ensuing left circle faceoff. With 13.1 seconds left, leading a 3-on-1 rush after intercepting the puck, Couturier iced the win with an empty net goal for his 9th tally of the season.
Third period shots were 7 for the Flyers, five for Montreal; 24-16 overall in Philly's favor. The Flyers will hold an 11 a.m. practice in Voorhees, NJ, on Friday and then play host to the LA Kings on Saturday afternoon.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»