FLYERS-FLAMES WRAPUP: PHILLY NEEDED TWO POINTS, RESCUED ONE
One season after setting a franchise record for third-period comeback victories, the Flyers entered Tuesday's game against the Calgary Flames with a 2-20-3 record in games they trailed after the second period. Ultimately, the Flyers rallied for two goals against the Flames to earn a point from the game but were unable to get a much-needed second point. Calgary prevailed in overtime, 3-2.
The problem for the Flyers was not that they had a third-period goal disallowed for incidental contact between defenseman Nick Schultz and Calgary goaltender Karri Rà¤mö. It was not that Jiri Hudler's overtime goal from the left slot leaked through the pads of Steve Mason.
Rather, the biggest issue for Philadelphia was that they came out in a must-win game and dug themselves a hole with a poor start to the game. They found themselves having to chase the game and, even though their play picked up over the final 40 minutes of regulation, the deficit grew to 2-0 entering the third period.
On a league-wide basis, the team that scores first has won 69 percent of all games this season. The Flyers are slightly above the median, ranking 13th in winning percentage this season (19-2-6 record) when scoring first. However, when the Flyers trail first, they rank 24th (8-23-6 after last night).
For these reasons, the Flyers were fortunate that their third period rally produced a point from the game. It could have been two points -- it needed to be two because of where the Flyers are in the wildcard chase -- but it just as easily could have been a regulation loss.
Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund scored in regulation for Calgary before Hudler scored the winning goal in overtime. Winning goaltender Ramo stopped 35 of 37 shots to earn the win. Sean Couturier and Mark Streit scored for the Flyers. Mason stopped 23 of 26 shots.
The Flyers outshot Calgary by a 27-12 margin over the final 40 minutes of regulation. Calgary had both shots registered in overtime. Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play.
Monahan's goal, scored at 6:30 of the first period, was scored off a counterattack. Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto attempted to lead the rush up the middle of the ice and got stripped of the puck by Hudler. On the counter-rush, Mason Raymond fed the puck to Monahan, who sniped a shot from the bottom of the right circle.
Backlund's goal, scored at 4:58 of the middle stanza, was a tap-in from near the right post. Calgary outworked Philadelphia down low in the Flyers zone. As Lance Bouma swung out in front of the left post, his pass attempt ticked off Streit's skate and went directly to Backlund.
Couturier's goal, scored at the 53-second mark of the third period, gave the Flyers life. The sequence started with an offensive right circle faceoff win by Ryan White. After Couturier got the puck over to White down low in the offensive zone, he moved toward the net and received a perfect cross-ice pass from White. From almost the same spot Backlund scored his goal, Couturier slam-dunked the puck.
At 4:58 of the third period, the Flyers thought they had tied the game. The initial call on the ice appeared to be a good goal. However, the four on-ice officials huddled and ruled that Schultz made incidental contact in the crease with Calgary goaltender Karri Ramo before the puck crossed the goal line and that the contact was not a direct result of Schultz being pushed by Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau. The play was not reviewable under replay rules, as incidental contact is considered strictly an on-ice judgment call.
The Flyers finally tied the game at the 8:15 mark of the third period. Streit joined the play and slid into the net. As he got up and play started to move the other way, Calgary turned the puck over to Claude Giroux. Still near the Calgary crease, Streit deflected home a Michael Raffl shot. Once again there was incidental contact between a Philadelphia defenseman and the Calgary goaltender, but this time the contact came after the puck crossed the goal line.
Philly had several chances to pull the game out in regulation but could not solve Rà¤mö again.
The game ended at 1:23 of overtime. Hudler got open in the left slot and received the puck from T.J. Brodie. Mason seemed to have everything sealed up down low but the puck squeezed between his pads and into the back of the net.
With the consolation point from the overtime loss, the Flyers gained one point on the idle Boston Bruins. Philadelphia is now five points behind Boston but the Bruins hold two games in hand. The Flyers need to find a way to upset St. Louis on Thursday and hope Calgary beats Boston in regulation the same night. Philly would then need a regulation win in a head-to-head road matchup with the Bruins on Saturday to move within one point.
The Florida Panthers, now three points ahead of the Flyers, sustained a 3-2 regulation loss to Toronto on Tuesday night. The Panthers host the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
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FLYERS SIGN GOULBOURNE TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
The Flyers announced yesterday that they have signed 2013 third-round pick Tyrell Goulbourne to an entry-level contract, effective the start of the 2015-16 season. Goulbourne, who turned 21 on Jan. 26, has been playing an overage season in the Western Hockey League for the Kelowna Rockets after being offered an AHL contract by the Flyers prior to the season.
Goulbourne has been having a strong two-way season for the Rockets, albeit as a man playing mostly against teenagers. He plays with improved discipline and has always been a plus skater. His offensive numbers (17 goals, 38 points in 56 games) are immaterial because his role at the pro level will be as an energy-creating forward with potential NHL fourth-line upside.
If the Flyers had not signed Goulbourne by June, he would have become an unrestricted free agent. He would likely have had entry-level contract interest from other organizations. Now in his sixth season (fourth full year in the WHL) with the Rockets, Goulbourne has emerged as a team leader. He has cut way down on the number of bad penalties he takes while continuing to be an effective forechecker and agitator who can also be used in a variety of situations.
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FLYERS ALUMNI UPDATES
* The latest edition of the monthly Then and Now feature on notable former Flyers players takes an in-depth look at the life and career of fiery goaltender Robert Esche. The Utica, NY, native was one of the more underrated goalies the Flyers have had in their recent history and he holds the Philadelphia years of his career close to his heart to this day. For more, click here.
* Happy birthday wishes go out to Flyers Alumni goalie Jean-Marc Pelletier (1978) and offensively gifted forward Ray Allison (1959). For mini-bios on the two players, a look back at other notable March 4 happenings in Flyers' history (such as the 1998 trade that sent Garth Snow to the Canucks for Sean Burke) and much more, click here.
* Upcoming Flyers Alumni Games and Events:
3/7/15: University of Delaware Ice Arena - 7:00 p.m. (benefits Junior Achievement of Delaware) 4/4/15: The Rink at Lehigh Valley in Whitehall, PA - 2:00 p.m. (benefits You Too Animal Rescue) 4/12/15: NE Philadelphia Skate Zone - 1:30 p.m. (benefits NHS Human Services) 4/25/15: Voorhees NJ Skate Zone - 1:10 p.m.