Hagg’s first NHL goal propels Flyers to a 4-3 victory over Detriot

Philadelphia Flyers

Claude Giroux – Sean Couturier – Wayne Simmonds
Michael Raffl – Valtteri Filppula – Jakub Voracek
Jordan Weal – Nolan Patrick – Dale Weise
Jori Lehtera – Scott Laughton – Travis Konecny

Ivan Provorov – Andrew MacDonald
Robert Hagg – Shayne Gostisbehere
Travis Sanheim – Radko Gudas

Brian Elliott
Alex Lyon

Detriot Red Wings

Gustav Nyquist – Henrik Zetterberg – Justin Abdelkader
Tomas Tatar – Dylan Larkin – Andreas Athanasiou
Darren Helm – Frans Nielsen – Luke Glendening
Anthony Mantha – Martin Frk

Danny DeKeyser – Mike Green
Jonathan Ericsson – Trevor Daley
Niklas Kronwall – Nick Jensen
Luke Witkowski

Jimmy Howard
Petr Mrazek

1st Period Notes:

The Flyers start on their heels early. Just 2 minutes in, Gudas and Sanheim miscommunicate and give Nyquist a clear breakaway. Elliott stands tall.

They continue their sloppy play through the first 5 minutes, giving up the second wide open breakaway of the game to Athanasiou. Luckily, Athanasiou couldn’t keep control of the puck and its an easy poke save for Elliott.

The Flyers begin to gain some momentum with their first quality chance of the game 6:30 into the period. A Ghost shot from the point turns into a quality scoring chance for Couturier right out front. He’s denied.

The Flyers continue to get chances through the first 15 minutes of the game. Both Couturier and Giroux were denied on grade-A scoring chances. Howard is keeping the puck out of the net thus far but, has at times looked shaky. Chalk a few of his saves up to blind luck.

Dale Weiss sneaks a puck in on the wrap around. The puck was fired behind the net on a Gudas shot and Weiss was there to cash in the opportunity.

The Red Wings come back flying after the goal. The Flyers have had some very sloppy neutral zone play so far through this one.

Giroux is called for Hooking on Larkin with 1:06 remaining. The penalty kill has been terrible this season.

And just before the period ends, Frk puts a puck past Elliott with 1.6 seconds remaining. The penalty kill continues to be a thorn in the Flyers side. Andrew MacDonald failed to block the cross-ice pass and then laid down as he often does when in desperation mode. Bad play on his part.

Really though… isn’t it cold down there? #AMacLovin #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/EbUx3etdl1

— Austin Mitchell (@ustincmitchell) December 21, 2017

Period ends 1-1.

Scoring

PHI 15:19 – Weiss (Gudas, Patrick)

DET 19:58 – Frk (Larkin, Green)

Penalties

PHI 18:54 – Giroux (Slashing – Larkin)

Shots

PHI 10

DET 11

2nd Period Notes:

Just 2 minutes in, Justin Abdelkader makes Andrew MacDonald look foolish (again) as he slams on the brakes and creates an opportunity for the Red Wings early. Elliott stands tall.

WHO TAUGHT YOU THIS #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/hmivaFO6Pa

— Austin Mitchell (@ustincmitchell) December 21, 2017

Jordan Weal is called for a double minor High Sticking penalty and Mike Green scores shortly after. And I repeat, this penalty kill is awful.

After a lot of back and forth hockey through the first 10 minutes of play, the Flyers get their first powerplay of the game on an Ericsson holding penalty. Simmonds scores on the ensuing play off a beautiful tic-tac-toe play from Giroux and Voracek. Just how they drew it up. Tied at 2.

Nyquist scores shortly after on a bad miscommunication in the Flyers defensive end. Play has been fast and even. 3-2 Detroit.

Robert Hagg pots his first NHL goal on a CANNON from the point. He’s played extremely well this season and really deserved that one. Tied at 3.

The Flyers end the period playing well as they have for most of the game. They are, however, giving up a lot of odd man chances unnecessarily. Need to tighten up, if they do this game is theirs.

Scoring

DET 5:50 – Green (Larkin, Abdelkader)

PHI 10:48 – Simmonds (Voracek, Giroux)

DET 11:29 – Nyquist (Zetterberg, Mantha)

PHI 13:40 – Hagg (Giroux, Gostisbehere)

Penalties

PHI 2:56 – Weal (Double, Highstick – Nielsen)

DET 10:03 – Ericsson (Holding – Konecny)

Shots

PHI 11 (21)

DET 13 (24)

3rd Period Notes:

Both teams come out of the gate flying to start the period. The fact that the Red Wings can still play at such an insane pace in the 3rd period of a back-to-back is amazing.

Flyers begin to get a step on the Red Wings. They seem to be fading through the first 5 minutes of play.

Sean Couturier buries a rebound for his 16th goal of the year. That marks a career-high for the newly 25-year-old center. The Selke trophy inches closer and closer with each passing game. 4-3 Flyers.

Sean Couturier’s game-winning tally marked his 16th goal of the season, eclipsing his previous career high of 15 established in 2014-15 (82 GP). #DETvsPHI pic.twitter.com/CtrDGNMnRa

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 21, 2017

With 4 minutes remaining, the Flyers are dominating play. They’ve had the Red Wings pinned in their zone for over 2 minutes. The 1st line started the pressure and they even managed to make a full line change and still keep the puck in the zone.

With just over 2 minutes remaining, Voracek is called for an elbowing on Athanasiou. On-ice official Kelly Sutherland then gave Athanasiou an embellishment call before sending Voracek to the box to make it a 4-on-4. Giving both players a penalty in that situation probably wasn’t the correct call.

Flyers close out the period and win this one 4-3.