A Rule That Has No Meaning Ends Flyers Dreadful Night
The Philadelphia Flyers lost to the league’s best team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center by a score of 5-2.
Carter Hart was pulled after giving up 3 goals on 9 shots he faced in the 1st 10-minutes of the game. Brian Elliott stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced in relief of Hart.
Sean Couturier continued his hot streak, setting up both of the Flyers goals. Travis Konecny scored his 18th on the season. While Oskar Lindblom scored his 11th.
Here are 4 more observations from Flyers 5-2 loss to the Lightning…
Sean Couturier Stays Hot
The lone bright spot of the night for the Flyers was Sean Couturier. Couturier, who had 9 goals and 16 assists in his last 17 games, added 2 more assists to that total.
The first assist coming as the tac in a tic-tac-toe sequence with Raffl to Couturier to Lindblom for the goal. The second coming on a pass / shot that hit off of Lightning’s goalie Louis Domingue’s pad right to the stick of Travis Konecny. Who scored from an impossible angle.
For the season, Couturier now has 24 goals and 32 assists on the season. Continuing his ascension to the Flyers top center.
Carter Hart Left For Dry
Making his 3rd start in 4 days, Carter Hart looked like he could use a rest. Well, Hart. Not the whole team resting in-front of him with the leagues best team in the building.
Carter Hart was pulled just before the 10 minute mark of the opening period. After giving up 3 goals on 9 shots, Scott Gordon pulled Hart to try and jump start the team. But, all the goals weren’t Hart’s fault. The Flyers weren’t supporting Hart and were down 3-0 and being outshot 9-1.
The first Tampa goal deflected in off Shayne Gostisbehere’s stick and the second Tampa goal came after a Lightning player out-muscled Andrew MacDonald in-front. Both guys apart of the Flyers 2nd defense unit, who both had an eventful 1st period.
But, even with the goals, Hart stood strong and tried to keep the Flyers in the game. However, the 3rd Tampa goal showed his tiredness. Tonight, just wasn’t Hart’s night and the Flyers didn’t help one bit.
Gostisbehere & MacDonald Pairing A Night To Forget
Phil Myers made his NHL debut Sunday in Detroit. But, nobody sat for him as the Flyers used seven defensemen. Tonight, two prime candidates emerged to sit for Myers on Thursday in Montreal.
Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrew MacDonald had a off night to culminate an off couple of weeks for both guys. When you have to mention a good game, instead of steady play, thats not good. Tonight, hopefully was the final straw.
Gostisbehere and MacDonald contributed heavily in the games first two goals. Unfortunately, they were both Tampa goals. A MacDonald turnover and a Gostisbehere deflection on his own net resulted in the first goal. Then a Gostisbehere turnover and MacDonald being out-hustled in-front lead to the second goal.
If their poor play continues it may result in a permanent spot in the press box or possibly even worse. In someone else’s uniform.
The “Phantom” Goalie Interference Strikes Again
With 47 seconds left in the 3rd, the Flyers thought they cut the lead to 1. Well, they thought they did. After no signal directly after the whistle, referee Jake Brenk signaled no goal. Then, Brenk took center stage and said, “No goal on the ice due to goalie interference”.
Ahhhh, whaaaaaaaaat? Goalie interference? Let’s take a look. Was there a Flyer in the crease? NO. Did a Flyer make contact with Domingue? NO. So, where was the goalie interference?
If the referee and the league, who confirmed the call, thinks that Sean Couturier pushing a loose puck under Domingue is goalie interference, I don’t know what hockey is anymore.
The Flyers seem to always come out on the wrong end of challenges. Tonight, they were on the wrong end of a bad call on the ice and a confirmation by a league who doesn’t even know the game they play anymore.
Result : Flyers 2 – Lightning 5, LOSS
Record : 28 – 25 – 7
Next Game : 2 /21 Montreal Canadians, Montreal CA, NBCSports Philadelphia 7:00pm