Flyers Knocked Out In The 11th Round By The Maple Leafs
After a big team win Friday night in Newark against the Devils, the Flyers returned home for a matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night. The first of three matchups season between the Flyers and Leafs this season.
Coming off less than an 24hour rest, the Flyers came out slow and the Leafs let them have it. Firing the first 6 shots at Brian Elliott and pinning the Flyers in their own zone. The Leafs would use the sustained pressure and score the first goal just 5:55 into the 1st.
The Leafs would continue the pressure after the goal and Brian Elliott would come up with some pretty timely saves early for the Flyers. After getting outshot 10-1, Matt Niskanen would dump a puck in on Andersen to finally break an over 7minute drought with 5:52 left in the period.
Just under a minute later, on the power-play, an Ivan Provorov point shot would hit two Maple Leafs and find the back of the net. It was just the second Flyers shot of the game.
The second period would be a different story. It was the Leafs who looked like they played last night. After getting their legs mid-way through the 1st, the Flyers came out flying to start the 2nd. Taking the first 5 shots in the period and taking the lead just over 3 minutes into the 2nd. Claude Giroux would sneak right in-front from below the goal-line and slide the puck through Andersen’s five-hole.
Flyers pressure would continue after the goal but it would be Andersen who was making the timely saves. None bigger than a complete robbery of Kevin Hayes. Jake Voracek would win a puck battle behind the net and feed Hayes in the high slot for the one-timer that Andersen wouldn’t let get by him.
Andersen’s save gave the Leafs some life and the rink flipped. After controlling the majority of the period, the Flyers were now defending and pinned in their own zone. With 2:05 left in the period, Jason Spezza would knock a loose puck by Elliott to tie the game up.
Travis Sanheim would make up for his blunder on the games first goal next. Sanheim would get his own rebound and beat Andersen just 31 seconds in the 3rd period.
But, Toronto would turn on the jets and start to press the Flyers. Maple Leafs speedsters, Marner and Kapanen, started to skate circles around a more tired Flyers teams and it would pay off with just 5:05 remaining. Marner would score on a wrap-around to tie the game.
The game would head to overtime and boy what an overtime it was. The Flyers would fire 8 shots at Andersen, 6 coming on the power-play, but the game would head to a shootout.
Both teams going 0 for 3, we would head to sudden death. Continuing the drought to round 8, Travis Konecny would finally beat Andersen. With a save, the Flyers would win, but Jason Spezza had other ideas. Beating Elliott with a beautiful backhand-forehand goal.
The Flyers would not beat Anderson again and Andreas Johnsson would end it in the 11th round for the Maple Leafs victory.
Result : Flyers 3 – Maple Leafs 4, SOL (11 rounds 2-1)
Record : 6 – 5 – 2
Quick Notes…
After getting his 1st career goal Friday night against the Devils, Joel Farabee found himself some new linemates Saturday. Farabee’s recent play and finally his 1st career goal earned him a promotion to the Flyers top line. Tonight, was no different. Farabee continued his good play with his new linemates.
Struggling badly against the Penguins, Brian Elliott had a great bounce back game. After giving up 6 goals Tuesday night, Elliott would hold the leafs to 3 goals, stopping 23 of the 26 shots he faced, including 9 of the 11 shooters in the shootout. With Carter Hart bouncing back nicely last night against the Devils, the Flyers goal-tending is back on track.
Going into last nights game in New Jersey, the Flyers had a top 5 penalty kill. After giving up 2 goals on 4 opportunities, the penalty kill unit took a hit. But, against the Leafs, the penalty kill also bounced back. Killing off both Leaf power-play opportunities tonight.