STARTING LINEUPS:

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Forwards
Giroux-Couturier-Voracek

Weal-Filppula-Simmonds

Weise-Patrick-Konecny

Leier-Laughton-Raffl

Defensemen
Provorov-MacDonald

Gostisbehere-Hagg

Sanheim-Gudas

Goalie
Elliott

Top Scorers
Simmonds(4pts), Voracek(4pts)

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Forwards
Arvidsson-Johansen-Smith

Forsberg-Jarnkrok-Fiala

Hartnell-Bonino-Aberg

McLeod-Watson-Salomaki

Defensemen
Ekholm-Girard

Emelin-Subban

Irwin-Weber

Goalie
Rinne

Top Scorers
Arvidsson(2pts), Johansen(2pts)

FIRST PERIOD

Huge save by Elliott not even a minute into the game on an Arvidsson breakaway. Looks like goaltending will be a strength, not a weakness, this season.
A shoving match ensues in front of the Flyers’ crease after a mad scramble for the puck a little more than 2 minutes into the game. Looks to be a feisty night ahead.
Claude Giroux is called for slashing with 17:03 left in the period. The PK will be tested early tonight.
Craig Smith scores on a messy passing sequence for Nashville. 15:43 left in the first. 0-1.
An ongoing trend: the Flyers are fast this year. Like, really fast.
The Flyers get their best chance of the game as we pass the halfway mark of the period. Sanheim point shot. Dale Weiss rebound. Big save by Rinne.
Around 14 minutes in and were getting some of the first sustained pressure we’ve seen from the boys in Orange and Black.
Provorov giving a few shoves after the whistle. He’s been physical thus far, had a nice hit on Forsberg earlier.
17 minutes in and a big shot by Voracek. Bigger save by Rinne. He’s been razor sharp.
Rinne is forced to fall onto his back to make a huge save in the final minute, after a slow start the Flyers have evened up the shot totals.
A Nashville slashing penalty will have the Flyers start the 2nd period up a man.

Scoring

(4:17) Predators; G: Craig Smith, A: Fiala, Ekholm

Penalties

(2:57) Flyers; Claude Giroux, Slashing

(19:20) Predators; Craig Smith, Slashing

Shots

Flyers 9

Predators 9

SECOND PERIOD

The penalty comes to a close. The Flyers first powerplay looked a lot like this game has, disappointing early, gaining some life at the end.
Hartnell scores (of course!) off a wild rebound. Bad goal, Elliots been great but needs to save that. 0-2.
The Flyers answer quickly with a nice rush by our third line. A nice Patrick shot but more brilliance from Rinne keeps the Preds up 2-0.
Not even 5 minutes in and the Flyers have had more pressure than the entire first period. It results in a big scrap in the corner with Konecny in the thick of it. 4-on-4 hockey follows.
Nick Bonino takes advantage of a reeling Brian Elliott not even 2 minutes after the Preds second goal. Picks up a rebound out front and cashes in. 0-3.
With the Flyers on the powerplay just over 8 minutes into the period, a plethora of shots are reaching the Preds netminder. Rinne continues to stand tall though, he’s been brilliant.
Over 10 minutes in and we have a Flyers’ goal finally! Andrew MacDonald (what?!) rips one home. 1-3.
Dale Weiss hits Nolan Patrick out front who finds twine! FIRST OF MANY! 2-3.
8:30 into the period and Aberg finds himself on a 1-on-1 with Gostisbehere. Gives himself some room and fires a nice shot which created a rebound for Hartnell. 2 more big saves for Elliott.
Subban finds himself in the box with 7:37 left to play for hooking. Flyers PP is 0/3 so far.
Some great work from the second unit but no dice. Back to even strength.
Nashville is called for too many men on the ice. Lavy won’t be happy about that one. Just over 5 minutes left to play.
The Flyers score on the powerplay to tie it at 3. Filps picking up the rebound. Great Flyers hockey since those 2 early goals. 3-3
Nashville’s on their heels as Philadelphia has totally taken over this game. Very obviously showing their frustrations.
Helluva period by the Flyers. Showing great perseverance, something they’ve lacked in years passed.

Scoring

(3:08) Predators; G: Scott Hartnell, A: Aberg

(5:11) Predators; G: Nick Bonino, A: Ekholm, Subban

(10:19) Flyers; G: Andrew MacDonald, A: Laughton, Leier

(10:35) Flyers; G: Nolan Patrick, A: Weiss

(15:05) Flyers; G: Valtteri Filppula, A: Voracek, Gostisbehere

Penalties

(3:49) Flyers; Travis Konecny, Cross-checking

(3:49) Predators; Samuel Girard, Roughing

(7:32) Predators; Yannick Weber, Slashing

(12:23) Predators; P.K. Subban, Hooking

(14:38) Predators; Too many men on the ice

Shots

Flyers 15 (24)

Predators 8 (17)

THIRD PERIOD

Wayne Simmonds gets a great chance out front just over a minute in but can’t keep control of the puck. They look to continue their third period dominance from the first three games.
The little things: Raffl, with the help of his linemates, wins a hard fought battle in the corner. The addition of size and strength this year should make the Flyers a bear to deal with along the boards.
Konecny scores on a fantastic breakaway. Weal sprung him with a nice chip pass. 4-3 Flyers.
A little over 6 minutes in, the Flyers get their FIFTH powerplay chance. Fans aren’t happy in music city.
Filppula scores again on the PP. The Flyers have really brought it to Nashville for the last 40 minutes of play. 5-3.
Forsberg scores with 12:22 left to play and brings them within one. Preds really needed an answer and they got one. 5-4.
Nashville gains some momentum from that goal, both the players and the fans. Philly really needs to lock it down.
Big save by Elliot with 10:41 left to play. Chaos ensues. He’s played well despite letting 4 in.
Back and forth hockey as we enter the back half of the period. Fun to watch but a little breathing room would be nice.
Great work by Jordan Weal in the offensive zone with just under 6 minutes to play. Killing time when the Flyers need it most.
Girard with a shot from the point that almost squeezes through with 4:30 to play. Elliott stands tall.
More Predator shots, more Flyer saves. Nashville’s desperation grows as the clock winds down. 3 minutes to go.
5-on-3 in Nashville’s favor with 2:41 left. Because, of course.
Hartnell scores on the powerplay. Hakstol doesn’t believe it. Challenge called, very risky.
Goal stands, Flyers are assessed a penalty keeping it at 5-on-3. 5-5.
Forsberg scores, Flyers had so many calls go their way, not the one that counts though. 5-6 Nashville.
Couturier plays dump and chase hockey with 10 seconds left in the game. Maybe not the best decision. Time expires. 5-6 Nashville, final.

Scoring

(5:03) Flyers; G: Travis Konecny, A: Weal, Gostisbehere

(6:48) Flyers; G: Valterri Filppula, A: Giroux, Voracek

(7:38) Predators; G: Filip Forsberg, A: Johansen, Girard

(18:43) Predators; G: Scott Hartnell, A: Forsberg, Subban

(19:24) Predators; G: Filip Forsberg, A: Subban, Fiala

Penalties

(6:18) Predators; Hartnell, Cross-checking

(17:19) Flyers; Weise, Holding

(17:19) Flyers; MacDonald, Tripping

(18:43) Flyers; Delay of Game

Shots

Flyers 6 (30)

Predators 14 (31)

TAKEAWAYS

The Flyers are fast. Really fast. The youth infusion has totally changed the style of play for this team. After too many years of watching our superstars lose their step, it’s refreshing to see our boys flying up and down the ice again.
Something needs to change in the hours leading up to game time. Playing catch up every game won’t fair well for this team. The Flyers need to be geared up and ready to play right when they step on the ice. Otherwise, this is going to be a very long season.
Hakstol took a huge risk when challenging the game-tying goal and it ultimately cost his team the game. As a coach, a decision that huge needs to be made with full confidence in your own judgement. This time it wasn’t and came back to bite him.
When the team looked good, they looked good, but when they looked bad, boy did they look bad. Credit is due for the way they fought their way back into this one, but at the end of the day this is a loss and they left 2 points in Music City. Hopefully they can redeem themselves when they return to Wells Fargo Center to play the Washington Capitals.
Patrick scored! Phew, glad that’s out of the way. This kids the real deal.

Overall, this game was a heartbreaker. The Flyers have successfully sent me on a roller coaster of emotions and it’s only game 4. The significance of this loss and Hakstols questionable call may come back to haunt us down the stretch. Hopefully this is just a blip on the radar of a great, successful season. Long night, decent hockey, terrible refs, see ya Saturday.