No Emotional Breakdown For Flyers In Game 1 Without Wayne Simmonds
The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center by a score of 5-2. In game one without Wayne Simmonds, instead of an emotional breakdown, the Flyers let their emotion show on the ice. A performance that would have made Wayne proud.
Oskar Lindblom got the Flyers on the board first just 2:48 into the game. Jake Voracek would make it 2-0 just 5 minutes later. James van Riemsdyk stayed hot and deflected a Robert Hagg shot from the point to make the Flyers lead 3-1.
After the Sabres made it 3-2 late in the 2nd, Travis Sanheim would score 46 seconds into the 3rd to give the Flyers a two goal cushion again. Claude Giroux would score an empty net goal to give the Flyers the 5-2 win. Giroux’s 233rd career goal as a Flyer, moving him to 11th on the Flyers all-time goal list.
Brain Elliott stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced to earn the win.
Here are 4 more observations from the Flyers 5-2 win over the Sabres…
Brian Elliott
Since returning from injury, Brian Elliott has been on fire. Coming in in-relief for Carter Hart in his first two appearances, Elliott stopped 51 of the 54 shots he faced. Then, in his first start in the Stadium Series vs the Penguins, Elliott stopped 40 of the 43 shots he faced to earn the win.
Tonight, Elliott continued his hot-streak since returning. Elliott stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced to earn his second win since returning. Battling through the elements outside on Saturday night, Elliott battled through a 16 shot 2nd period and a 14 shot 3rd period to keep the Flyers ahead.
No save bigger than the two in quick secession on Jeff Skinner mid-way through the 3rd. Elliott got his leg on the shot from the point and robbed Skinner not once but twice in tight. This kept the Flyers ahead by two and they never looked back.
In Elliott’s four appearances since returning, he is 2-0-0 with 2.20 GAA & .940%.
Log-Jam On Defense
The Flyers have used as many goal-tenders as a team normally carries on defense. That number is 7 and will be 8 whenever Cam Talbot makes his debut. However, the Flyers used 7 defenseman again because of a log-jam on the point.
Provorov, Sanheim, Gostisbehere, Hagg, Gudas, and MacDonald have been the Flyers regular defense all season. But, with Philippe Myers impressing at the Phantoms and earning his call-up, it was just a matter of time until the Flyers would have too many defenseman.
Then, with the Gudas suspension, Myers got two more starts after debuting as the 7th defenseman in Detroit against the Red Wings and showed he deserves to be in the NHL. But, Gudas returned tonight and Gordon left Myers in and went with 7 defenseman again.
Seven defenseman is something you do every once in a while to get someone a rest, not on a nightly basis. With the trade deadline in the rear view mirror, someone will have to sit. Not to make it anymore of a mess, Sam Morin was activated Monday from his conditioning loan and is ready to play as well.
Ryan Hartman
It is hard to fill the persons shoes you were traded for on night one. However, Ryan Hartman came out flying and put on a show for the Flyer faithful.
On his first shift, Hartman showed his grit. Hartman leveled Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin with a huge hit that caused a scrum and a Flyers power-play.
https://twitter.com/BarstoolJordie/status/1100551381482643457
Then, Hartman’s great defense play, laying out to block a Sabres shot. Lead to a Flyers rush up-ice and a goal by James van Riemsdyk. Hartman started the night as one of the extras on the 4th line with the Flyers going with 7 defenseman and 11 forwards. But, ended the night with van Riemsdyk and Laughton. The best line of the night for the Flyers.
First Game Without Wayne Simmonds
The trade deadline is always a stressful situation for everyone in the NHL. But, even more stressful for teams that are not in a playoff spot and are sellers. That unfortunately was the Flyers this season and they lost a team leader and fan favorite because of it.
Wayne Simmonds was traded to the Nashville Predators at the buzzer of the NHL trade deadline. At 2:57pm, just 3 minutes before the deadline, GM Chuck Fletcher struck a deal with the Predators to send Simmonds to Nashville.
In return, as mentioned above, the Flyers got a very good young and promising forward in Ryan Hartman and a 4th round pick in 2020. That pick can become a 3rd round pick if Nashville wins their opening series in the playoffs. Which is almost certain to happen.
The trade gave Simmonds the opportunity to go and compete for the Stanley Cup in his contract year. Chuck Fletcher said one of the reasons why Simmonds was traded was because of no contract was in sight right now. But, they could circle back to Simmonds in the offseason.
Result : Flyers 5 – Sabres 2, WIN
Record : 30 – 26 – 7
Next Game : 2/28 Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus OH, NBCSports Philadelphia 7:00pm