Call it a gut-check game, given the team's brutal schedule this week and the difficulty of playing the heretofore unbeaten-at-home St. Louis Blues even under ideal circumstances. Call it a trial by far for an injury-riddled Philadelphia Flyers team that was forced to start a blueline in which the most experienced player had just 150 games to his credit.
In the end, just call it a 2-0 win for the Flyers against a relentless Blues team. The Flyers improved to 7-6-1. The Blues dropped to 10-3-1 overall and 5-1-0 at home.
Every player on the Flyers' roster did their part along the way, but the heaviest lifting was done by the brilliant play of defenseman Ivan Provorov, goaltender Michal Neuvirth (33-save shutout) and the two-way work of Sean Couturier (two assists). Vitally, Couturier returned to the game for the third period after a reckless blindside hit by former Flyers linemate Brayden Schenn in the second period.
Brandon Manning (2nd goal of the season) and Claude Giroux (empty net, 7th) tallied for the Flyers. Jake Allen made 21 saves on 22 shots in a losing cause. The Flyers went 0-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. The latter area was highlighted by an incredible two-plus minute shift by Provorov on the 2nd kill, blocking three shots.
Twenty-nine-year-old veteran AHL defenseman Will O'Neill made his NHL debut for the Flyers in this game. He and frequent Phantoms partner Mark Alt were given spot duty by Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol but did not get scored upon. In the meantime, Robert Hà¤gg, Travis Sanheim (playing his second straight strong game) and Manning all absorbed extended minutes.
The Blues came out storming, intent on challenging the Flyers' injury depleted blueline. The Flyers bent, but didn't break, with Neuvirth authoring good saves on Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz. Both teams had a power play opportunity apiece. The Flyers started to generate some attack time of their own in the latter stages of the opening period.
First period shots were 14-8 in the Blues' favor. Shot attempts were 25-18 in the Blues' favor. Manning put four on net for Philly. The Flyers blocked seven shots (four by Provorov). The Blues outhit the Flyers, 13-3, led by three credited hits by Dmtrij Jaskin. Philly won 10 of 15 faceoffs, led by Scott Laughton going 4-for-5.
The Flyers defensemen ice time in the first period broke down this way: Provorov 9:47; Hà¤gg 8:05, Manning 6:48; Sanheim 5:59, Alt 4:24 and O'Neill 2:54.
Manning weaved a point shot into the net with Voracek parked in front at the 38-second mark. The goal was waved off by referee Ghislain Hebert for goaltender interference due to incidental contact. The Flyers challenged the ruling, saying Voracek was outside the crease and was nudged into the blue paint by Alex Pietrangelo. Upon review, the call was reversed and the Flyers led 1-0. Manning's second goal of the season was assisted by Sean Couturier (7th assist) and Claude Giroux (9th assist).
Hà¤gg was sent off for high-sticking at 1:10. The Blues applied extremely heavy pressure, but Provorov came up with three more shot blocks and stayed out the entire two minutes. St. Louis continued the push as the penalty expired. Finally, Neuvirth swallowed up a shot for much-needed stoppage.
Schenn had an open chance from the slot several minutes later but Neuvirth flashed the leather and snared the puck. A few minutes later, Schenn was guilty of a dirty hit on Couturier -- blind side,late and a borderline up around the net -- and got an interference minor at 11:39. Couturier was in distress after the hit. The Flyers did not score on the power play.
Second period shots were 10-8 in the Flyers' favor (22-18 Blues through 40 minutes). Shot attempts were 19-15 in the Blues' favor (44-33 in the Blues' favor through two periods). Provorov blocked five more shots (nine in two periods). Hits were 10-9 in the Flyers favor (22-13 overall in the Blues' favor). Faceoffs were 9-7 Blues (17-14 Flyers overall).
Through two periods, Provorov logged 17:51 of ice time, Manning 15:17, Hà¤gg 14:58, Sanheim 13:47, Alt 8:24 and O'Neill 6:35.
Couturier returned for the third period, making a good defensive play behind the Flyers' net during the 4-on-4 that started the period after both teams got minors (Provorov for cross-checking, Joel Edmundson for roughing) for a scrum after the final buzzer of the 2nd period.
Couturier had lots of open room with Allen flummoxed on a Flyers rush at about the 3:00 mark but missed the net. The Blues responded with heavy forechecking pressure and another Vladimir Tarasenko scoring chance. A failed clear, a good pinch by Colton Parayko and a feed across the slot forced Neuvirth to come up with a big save on Oskar Sundqvist from just below the hash marks.
Provorov's outstanding nigh continued as he fought off a forechecking Alex Steen, who tried and failed to lift the defenseman's stick. The puck was then moved to safety. Later, he separated the tank-link Tarasenko from the puck along the right side boards.
Raffl failed to get the puck out on an opening clearing attempt, momentarily causing a heap of trouble. Leier helped him out, and the Flyers eventually got the puck down the ice to get an offensive circle face off. With about 3:30 left, the Laughton line had an excellent cycling and forechecking shift that hemmed St. Louis in deep for 20 seconds.
St. Louis pressured again after a Hà¤gg giveaway. Finally, Simmonds blocked a shot and the puck exited the defensive zone. The Blues pulled Allen for an extra attacker in the final 2 mins. Provorov took an icing with 1:04 left on a high flip down the ice that narrowly missed the empty net. The Blues called timeout.
After a St. Louis forced turnover, Voracek missed the empty net from the red line. At the other end, Neuvirth made a point-blank save on a wide-open Schenn with 28.1 seconds left. Finally with 5.8 second left, Simmonds unselfishly fed Giroux for an empty net goal. Giroux's 7th goal of the season was assisted by Simmonds (fourth of the season, 200th of his career) and Couturier (8th of the season, second of the game).
Third period shots were 11-5 in the Blues' favor (33-23 Blues overall). Shot attempts were 24-6 in the Blues' favor (68-39 Blues overall). Provorov blocked one additional shot in the third period. Hits were 9-8 in the Flyers' favor (30-22 Blues overall). Faceoffs were 11-9 Blues (26-25 Flyers overall).
Final blueline ice time breakdown: Provorov finished with 27:10 of ice time, Hà¤gg with 24:12, Manning with 22:56, Sanheim with 21:03, Alt with 12:14 and O'Neill with 9:25.
The Flyers will take a complete off-day on Friday and then host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.