Wrap: Familiar Problems Hurt Flyers in 5-3 Loss to Caps
A preponderance of unforced errors, including seven giveaways in the first period alone. A tendency to make rushed, forced decisions under puck pressure. Giving up a goal very shortly after scoring one. Late-arriving back checking support. Digging a multi-goal hole and being forced to rely on a desperation comeback push. A failed power play with an opportunity to tie the game.
None of these are new problems for the Philadelphia Flyers this season, and they all played a part in the team's 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.
"I was more concerned about our execution really than our energy. I felt that they’re a team that puts hard pressure. They play a real tight game. They make the lines real hard. Then in their zone, they play man-on-man. There are plays with the puck that you need to make in all three zones. Unfortunately, in their end, we made some costly mistakes that led to rush opportunities that they were able to put in the back of our net. We had a push in the third, but it was obviously too late," Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said.
"You have to give credit to the opposition. They are a good team. They’re tough to play against. Like I mentioned a little bit before, their pressure is hard and relentless. You have to make plays with the puck. They play so tight in that neutral zone that sometimes the high percentage play, the right play is to advance the puck and skate on to it. If you go east-west, you get yourself in trouble. If you lose the puck in the neutral zone, the way they play man-on-man, their counter-attack with their D’s jumping up in the play is really efficient. We had a push, but they’re a good team. When you get behind against a team like that, it’s very challenging."
Alex Ovechkin (9th goal of the season) opened the scoring off a Flyers' turnover after a chip pass by goalie Brian Elliott eluded Ivan Provorov's stick and was taken instead by the future Hall of Famer. Travis Konecny (power play, 7th) briefly tied the game but another Flyers turnover -- this one caused by an ill-advised play by Nicolas Aube-Kubel high in the offensive zone -- resulted in a Conor Sheary (6th) counter-attacking goal less than two minutes later.
The only scoring in the second period came from Washington. A Jakub Voracek turnover and a late-to-arrive backcheck resulted in John Carlson (6th) joining a counterattack and scoring point blank. Later, Nic Dowd (4th) beat Travis Sanheim off the rush and parlayed a lucky bounce off Shayne Gostisbehere's skate into a 4-1 Washington lead.
The Flyers made a push in the third period. Ivan Provorov (3rd) scored a 4-on-4 goal early in the third period before Scott Laughton (7th) got the team back within 4-3. Philly got little sustained pressure thereafter before Dowd (5th of the season, 2nd of the game) scored a long-distance empty net goal.
Elliott stopped 17 of 21 shots in a losing cause. Ilya Samsonov made 30 saves on 33 shots. The Flyers went 1-for-2 on the power play, and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
There was no silver lining to Thursday's game. The Flyers have already slipped below the East Division playoff cutoff line and every team they are chasing won their respective games on Thursday. Saturday's game is now one of salvaging something against Washington after back-to-back losses.
For analysis, highlight clips and more from Thursday's game, visit the Postgame 5 on the Flyers' official website.
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Quick Hits: March 12, 2021
1) Vigneault was asked about Phil Myers, for the second time in less than two weeks, being a healthy scratch. The coach, who has increased the volume on his public critiques of several struggling players as well as his dissatisfaction with struggling to establish a regular to defensive pairing partner for Ivan Provorov, was blunt in this assessment of Myers' play this season. He also stopped short of pledging to get Myers right back in the starting lineup.
"I believe Phil's got a tremendous amount of potential. One of the challenges that any player has, but sometimes you see a little more often with in younger players, is the consistency issue. As much as we believe that Phil has potential -- great skater, good size, etc. -- there are some things in his game that we've been pointing out too often to him. One, being first on the puck, and taking a hit to make a play. He needs to improve in that area. It's cost us in the last few games in some situations. Next time he comes into the lineup, he's got to find a way to play the right way, and stay in the lineup," Vigneault said.
While Myers is undeniably struggling with wide swings of inconsistency, the same could be said about most of the Flyers' defensive rotation. The forwards don't get a pass, either.
2) The Flyers have a complete off-day on Friday.
3) Zack Hill shared this video of Flyers center Sean Couturier signing a jersey and delivering a personal thank you message to Marine sergeant Justin Solario; a lifelong Flyers fan who drove 500 miles to attend last Sunday's game at the Wells Fargo Center; the first game since the NHL pause last season in which fans were admitted to the arena.
Justin Solorio, a US Marine, drove 500 miles to attend Sunday's game. Flyers center Sean Couturier wanted to send a personal thank you.
— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) March 11, 2021
Video courtesy Zack Hill/@NHLFlyers pic.twitter.com/xIWrcOM3lE