Wrap: Special Teams Key 3-2 Win vs. Calgary
The Philadelphia Flyers ended a four-game winless stretch (0-2-2) with a much-needed 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday afternoon. The Flyers twice trailed by one-goal margins in the second period but pushed back to send the game to the third period tied at 2-2. Philly then forged ahead in the third period and closed out the win effectively.
The Flyers put forth a strong overall game. They attacked the net aggressively and played with good pace. Special teams played a major role in the outcome, as the Flyers tallied both power play and shorthanded goals to pull even and then forge ahead. It was an entertaining, physical and sometimes ornery game throughout and hostilities continued even after the final horn.
A healthy scratch on Thursday against Columbus -- the 11th time John Tortorella scratched him this season -- Morgan Frost went to Tortorella's office on Friday and requested a one-on-one meeting (note: Frost also did this last season). Tortorella said that it was a lively conversation, and Frost did not agree with all of Tortorella's viewpoints. However, the coach said that they came to a good understanding of what the other believes to be right and it hopefully has opened a path for them to work forward together.
On Saturday, Frost played a very high-energy game. He was rewarded with his sixth goal of the season as the Flyers' tied the game at 1-1 and then earned a power play assist as Philly drew even at 2-2. Frost had four shots on goal, three credited hits and a blocked shot in 13:51 of ice time across 19 shifts. He was selected First Star of the game.
Sean Couturier scored a bank shot goal (10th) on the power play to tie the game at 2-2. Travis Konecny (21st goal of the season) scored shorthanded at 2:27 of the third period put the Flyers in the lead. Carter Hart (22 saves on 24 shots) and company took care of the rest.
Jonathan Huberdeau (6th) and defenseman Mackenzie Weegar scored for Calgary in a losing cause. A would-be goal for Calgary was later wiped out by a blatant Connor Zary interference penalty in front of the net at 13:22 of the third period. Jacob Markström made 39 saves on 42 shots.
A key moment in the game came at 9:19 of the second period. Cam York was hit late and with a high elbow from Calgary's Elias Lindholm. That was uncharacteristic of Lindholm. Immediately, Joel Farabee went after Lindholm in defense of York. The Flyers lost Farabee for 17 minutes due to instigation (with an automatic 10-minute misconduct) and fighting penalties but it ratcheted up the emotion on the Flyers' bench.
Frost actually started the game not playing on the power play at all. But when Farabee was serving his penalties, Frost was put onto PP1 on the left half wall. Later, with Bobby Brink benched throughout the third period, Frost went to PP2.
For the second straight game, the Flyers significantly shortened the bench as the game went along. Brink, whose checking game has been in Tortorella's crosshairs recently, skated 9:36 across 11 shifts (7:17 TOI at 5-on-5). Once again, Nic Deslauriers continued to struggle in very limited ice time (seven shifts, 3:32 TOI). Deslauriers did not see the ice in the third period.
Moved down in the starting lineup from the 2nd or 3rd line (all season, the second-line and third-line designations have been rather interchangeable), Ryan Poehling played 13 shifts for the game (9:06 TOI, with 7:31 at 5-on-5 and the rest on the penalty kill). He did get a couple shifts in the third period but it was brief. Much of the latter half of the game was spent with Tortorella rolling Couturier, Scott Laughton, and Frost's lines.
A healthy scratch against Columbus, Cam Atkinson returned to the lineup on Saturday. He had two Grade A scoring chances but his offensive frustrations continued. Other aspects of his game were good. Overall, Atkinson skated 15:56 across 21 shifts. He was also deployed late in the game with Calgary attacking 6-on-5 with an empty net behind team, and Atkinson was part of the Flyers' strong closeout.
For more on Saturday's win, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com
Flyers starting lineup
86 Joel Farabee - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny 74 Owen Tippett - 21 Scott Laughton - 89 Cam Atkinson 71 Tyson Foerster - 48 Morgan Frost - 10 Bobby Brink 44 Nicolas Deslauriers - 25 Ryan Poehling - 19 Garnet Hathaway
6 Travis Sanheim - 8 Cam York 24 Nick Seeler - 26 Sean Walker 5 Egor Zamula - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
79 Carter Hart [33 Samuel Ersson]
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Late Comeback Spurs 4-3 Phantoms Win
Trailing 3-1 in the third period of their road game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday evening, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms pushed back for two goals to force overtime and then prevailed in sudden death.
Samu Tuoamaala, who'd had several quiet games of late, busted out of his mini-slump with two goals (9th and 10th of the season) including the sudden death winner. Ronnie Attard followed up Tuomaala's first goal of the game with a game-tying tally (6th) a little over a minute later. Cooper Marody, who scored (9th) back in the first period, assisted on Tuomaala's winning goal in overtime. Felix Sandström (21 goals on 24 shots) earned the win in goal.
Phantoms starting lineup:
17 Garrett Wilson - 9 Tanner Laczynski - 19 Wade Allison 16 J.R. Avon - 91 Elliot Desnoyers - 27 Samu Tuomaala 28 Olle Lycksell - 24 Adam Brooks - 20 Cooper Marody 15 Jordy Bellerive- 56 Jacob Gaucher - 14 Zayde Wisdom
6 Emil Andrae - 7 Louie Belpedio 98 Victor Mete - 12 Ronnie Attard 37 Adam Ginning - 3 Adam Karashik
32 Felix Sandström [40 Cal Petersen]