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Wrap: Flyers Force Game 6 |
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Unable to protect a two-goal lead in the third period for the second time in the series, the Philadelphia Flyers once again rescued a victory in overtime as they defeated the New York Islanders, 4-3 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Tuesday evening.
Scott Laughton's deflection of an Ivan Provorov point shot found the net at 12:20 of the extra frame.
"I was pretty fired up. I think probably one of my bigger goals in my career to score. Obviously a nice feeling. Did a good job getting it to the net and just tried to get my stick on it. Was really excited, but at the same time, we’re still down in the series. We got a lot of work to do. Got to regroup tomorrow. Get some rest and come back after them," Laughton said.
With the win, the Flyers forced a Game 6 in the series. The game will be on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
After a scoreless first period, a controversial Mathew Barzal power play goal at 1:20 of the second period gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead. Later, a Claude Giroux deflection at 15:45 and a James van Riemsdyk goal on a 3-on-1 rush at 18:18 sent the Flyers to the second intermission leading 2-1. Matt Niskanen added an early third period insurance goal but late goals by Brock Nelson scored from distance at 15:46 and Derick Brassard from the doorstep at 17:19 forced overtime.
Carter Hart earned the win with 29 saves on 32 shots. Semyon Varlamov took the loss with 28 saves on 32 shots.
Giroux and van Riemsdyk, the only two Flyers players who were part of the team's comeback from a 3-0 series deficit against the Boston Bruins in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals and both goalless in the playoffs heading into Tuesday's game, were publicly challenged by head coach Alain Vigneault earlier in the day to "put on their big boy pants" and show the way for the team's young players. Giroux was a second-year pro and JVR was a rookie in 2009-10 as veterans Simon Gagne (returning ahead of schedule from an injury), Danny Briere and Chris Pronger led the way. Additionally, Niskanen, the only Flyer with a Stanley Cup ring, had struggled in the postseason this year to date.
"I think I used the term that they need to wear their 'big boy pants.' Without a doubt, they came to play. Our whole group came to play tonight. That team on the other side is an experienced team. That’s a real sound fundamental hockey team. You have to earn every inch out there. I thought we came to play. We had a real strong first period and we were able in the early in the third to make it 3-1. I thought we were playing real well. Found a way to make it interesting, I guess. Found a way to get the job done and that’s what we did," Vigneault said.
Travis Konecny did not score his elusive first goal of the playoffs but he did collect a pair of assists and, for the second straight game, was effective in creating offense.
Both teams suffered a notable injury in Game 5. After an accidental knee-to-knee collision between Flyers top line center Sean Couturier and Islanders top center Barzal in the second period, Couturier was unable to return for the third period or overtime. In the third period, Barzal had to exit after taking an accidental high stick under his visor from Giroux on the follow-through of a shot.
The Flyers played a strong first period overall: aggressive on the forecheck, sound in their own zone. Philly generated 11 shots on goal on 26 shot attempts, and had multiple good scoring chances. None were better that Sean Couturier's rebound opportunity off a Claude Giroux shot; he had a lot of net at which to shoot, but hit the left post. Kevin Hayes had a good jam-in opportunity stepping out from behind the net and a follow-up opportunity. Giroux had one in the near slot as well as a shot through a screen from the left circle.
The Islanders blocked 10 Flyers shot attempts in the first period. They also had a pair of odd-man rushes. The latter of the two forced Cart Hart to make a good skate save on J-G Pageau; the toughest of his four saves in the first period. The Flyers took a pair of neutral zone penalties. The latter, a tripping penalty on Derek Grant, carried over 1:25 into the second period.
Philadelphia's challenge for goaltender interference on Matt Barzal on his power play goal at 1:20 of the second period was unsuccessful. Tyler Pitlick pushed Barzal into the net, although Barzal also made no effort whatsoever to vacate the crease (and held Ivan Provorov's stick for good measure). Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle got the assists after the puck banked in off Barzal. The Flyers killed off the subsequent delay of game penalty for the failed challenge. Overall, the Flyers went 3-for-4 on the penalty kill, 0-for-2 on the power play.
The Islanders started to take over the game for about five minutes until the Flyers top line had strong puck possession shifts on both ends of a TV timeout. Finally, after multiple low-to-high plays, the Flyers got a payoff on Giroux's high tip of a Phil Myers point shot. Couturier got the secondary assist at 15:45.
The Flyers haven't had many odd-man rushes in this series, and struggled to finish the few they've got but JVR made no mistake on his goal set up by Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny at 18:18.
"We know where we stand. It’s do or die for us. We wanted to come out with a strong effort as a team and I thought we did that. Obviously it feels good to chip in offensively. Like I said before, I think every guy up and down the lineup did a good job pulling the rope in the right direction and that’s what we need more of in the next one," van Riemsdyk said.
Philadelphia nearly had a third goal near the end of the second period as the puck disappeared under Varlamov's pad near his skate. Replays were inclusive on whether the puck crossed the goal line before Tyler Pitlick jammed Varlamov's pad and skate into the net. Second period shots ended up 11-9 in the Flyers' favor.
With Couturier unable to return for the third period, the Flyers killed off a Scott Laughton interference penalty. At 4:32, after Hayes kept the puck in the offensive zone and Konecny made a perfect cross-ice pass, a wide open Niskanen was able to step into a heavy shot that beat Varlamov for a 3-1 lead.
The Islanders generated 10 of the next 11 shots, and Nelson's long range shot may be been deflected a bit by Joel Farabee but was stoppable for Hart. With 2:41 left, Clutterbuck won a battle with Nate Thompson passed beyond Hagg to Brassard, who had a slam dunk to tie the game at 3-3. Shots were 12-6 Islanders.
There were multiple Grade A chances for both teams in OT. Hart had to make 7 saves, several of which were tough, including a point-blank chance for the wide-open Nelson. After Matt Martin tripped up Hagg behind the Flyers' net, the Flyers got just their second power play of the game but Philadelphia was unable to do much with it.
On the Flyers' fourth shot on goal in OT, Laughton's tip of Provorov's shot ended the game at 12:20.
"We’ve got some veteran guys that understand the game. They’re obviously finding ways. It’s more them than coaches right now. They regroup. They went back there and found a way to get it in overtime. That’s what this game is all about at this time of the year," Vigneault said.
"I’ve always said that Scotty is one of our character players. He cares. He wants to do well. He especially wants the team to do well. When Coots was unable to come back, I just looked at our options and how certain guys were playing. I thought he would be the best fit with G and Jake that I believed who were battling tremendously hard tonight. It worked out in overtime."
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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