Wrap: Predators Take Down Flyers, 5-4
The Philadelphia Flyers fell to 1-3-0 on their five-game road trip as they dropped a 5-4 decision at Bridgestone Arena to the Nashville Predators. The Flyers took a 2-0 lead to the first intermission, took a 3-1 lead early in the second period and then had to scramble to get the game to the second intermission tied at 4-4. The contest was up for grabs in the final period until Nashville took its second one-goal lead of the game.
Un the second and third periods, the Predators were able to get traffic toward the net and generate deflection goals. Norris Trophy candidate Roman Josi weaved his magic in the attack zone and generated a pair of assists on shots that teammates tipped into the net. In the previous game, Colorado's Cale Makar had two primary assists on shots off faceoff wins that ended up deflecting into the net.
Travis Sanheim (6th goal of the season) converted a beautiful setup from Morgan Frost to give the Flyers an early 1-0 lead. Joel Farabee (15th) added to the lead late in the period.
Just 41 seconds into the second period. a Yakov Trenin deflection (16th) of a Roman Josi point shot quickly cut the Nashville deficit to 2-1. After Max Willman (4th) scored on a breakaway to open a 3-1 lead, the Predators generated unanswered goals by Trenin (second of the game, 17th), Luke Kunin (12th) and Filip Forsberg (37th). James van Riemsdyk (17th) re-tied the game in the final minute.
In the third period, the game seemed headed to overtime before Tanner Jeannot (22nd) put the Predators ahead to stay with 1:19 left in regulation. The rookie power forward finished with a Gordie Howe hat trick (one goal, two assists, one fight).
The Flyers were opportunistic offensively and made some good plays up ice. Defensively, they struggled to exit their own zone at times. Nashville controlled the territorial play for about 35 of the opening 40 minutes. The third period was evenly played until Nashville made a late push that resulted in the Predators finding a way to win.
Flyers goalie Martin Jones stopped 30 of 35 shots in a losing cause. Juuse Saros earned the win with 19 saves on 23 shots.
The Flyers went 0-for-1 on the power play. The Predators went 1-for-2.
For more on the game, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com.
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Flyers Sign Noah Cates to ELC
One day after graduating University of Minnesota Duluth senior forward Noah Cates' team was eliminated in the NCAA's West Regional Finals in the Frozen Four tournament, the 23-year-old Cates signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Flyers. The deal was announced on Sunday afternoon.
As is par for the course leaguewide when signing college draftees, the entry-level deal starts the same season and the first year will be burned immediately, Cates will join the team in Minnesota on Tuesday for the final game of the Flyers' five-game road trip.
Noah Cates' brother, Jackson Cates is also currently under contract with the Flyers. Presently out with an injury, Jackson Cates has appeared in 11 NHL games for the Flyers this season (1g, 0a, 9:05 TOI) along with 37 games in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2 shorthanded goals, 8 assists, 10 points).
The Cates brothers were previously teammates on Minnesota Duluth's NCAA championship winning 2018-19 team. The Flyers signed Jackson as an undrafted free agent last spring. Noah was originally selected by the Flyers out of Stillwater High School (Minnesota) and the USHL in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Noah Cates is considered to be a versatile, two-way forward who can be placed in various different spots in the lineup as needed and is comfortable playing either center or wing. At the NHL level, he likely projects as bottom-six forward but brings some skill to the table as well.
Internationally, Noah Cates was part of Team USA's 2018-19 World Junior Championship Squad. Earlier this year, he dressed for Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
In a statement, Flyers general manager and president of hockey operations, Chuck Fletcher, cited Cates' 200-foot game and maturity as his primary assets.
"Noah has had an exceptional collegiate career and we're happy to have him signed. Noah is a versatile and responsible two-way player who has helped Minnesota-Duluth win a National Championship and represented the United States on both the World Junior and Olympic stage. We have followed his progress closely and are excited to watch his continued growth in our organization," Fletcher said.