Both teams coming in off the first game of the home and home in Philadelphia Saturday. The Flyers look for revenge in Minnesota after the Wild shut them out in Philadelphia. he Wild look to continue their strong play and extend their win streak to 3.
Flyers Lineup
Giroux – Couturier – Voracek
Weise – Weal – Simmonds
Lehtera – Filppula – Konecny
Leier – Laughton – Raffl
Provorov – Hagg
Gostisbehere – Manning
Sanheim – Gudas
Starter – Elliott
Backup – Neuvirth
Scratches
24 – Read
39 – Alt
1st Period Notes…
What a bad start for the Flyers. Just 12 seconds into the game, Eric Staal picked the pocket of Ivan Provorov, who then fed Nino Niederreiter in the slot for the early goal. Not a good start for the Flyers. 1-0 Wild.
About three minutes later, the Flyers got a great shift by the newly formed second line, Weise-Weal-Simmonds. The line generated two “A” quality scoring chances. However, no goal. But, they drew the first penalty of the game. Flyers to the powerplay.
However, the same old, same old happened and the Wild killed it off. The Wild had a great penalty kill where it seemed whenever the Flyers made a pass, a Wild stick was in the way.
Around the 10:00 mark, Elliott had to come up big for the Flyers. The Wild put together a couple minutes of good quality scoring opportunities. If Elliott wasn’t on his game, the Wild could have scored once or twice during the pressure.
With just over two minutes left in the period, Flyers Wayne Simmonds took a careless penalty in the neutral zone. He grabbed a Wild player and spun him around for an easy call by the referee. This was unnecessary as the play was going nowhere. However, the Flyers penalty kill continued their strong play and killed it off easily.
Period ends 1-0 Wild
Scoring
19:48 Wild Nino Niederreiter Assisted by Eric Staal
Penalties
16:43 Wild Mike Reilly 2 min Hooking
2:38 Flyers Wayne Simmonds 2 min Holding
Shots
Flyers – 6
Wild – 7
2nd Period Notes…
I have written this in every game recap. The Flyers again came out flat to start the second period. The Wild’s first line almost scored again in the first minute of the period. However, Elliott robbed Zucker from the high slot to keep the game 1-0 Wild.
But, the Flyers woke up a little faster tonight. The Flyers had a great couple of shifts over the next couple of minutes to neutralize the Wild hot start. However, that pressure was short lived as the Wild turned it up.
Around the 15:00 mark, the Wild had a shift for about two minutes straight in the Flyers zone with no clear. The Wild made two full line changes during the pressure. But, Elliott stood on his head and kept the game 1-0.
Then, around the 12:00 mark, Flyers Scott Laughton had the best chance for a Flyer yet. Laughton was fed beautifully by Michael Raffl. However, Dubnyk robbed Laughton. Game still 1-0 Wild.
The Flyers got lucky with about 8 minutes left in the period. During a Wild rush, they were whistled for a too-many men on the ice penalty. Flyers to their 2nd powerplay of the night.
This powerplay was very different. The Flyers had great pressure and some quality chances on net. They finally got some pucks through the Wild defenders on Dubnyk. But, he had the answers. Wild kill it off. Still 1-0.
Then, with under two minutes left in the second, the Honey Bees, Leier-Laughton-Raffl, had the Flyers best shift by any line tonight. First, Leier hit the crossbar. Then, Leier was robbed point blank by Dubnyk. Still no goal though.
Period ends 1-0 Wild.
Scoring
None
Penalties
8:12 Wild Bench Minor 2 min Too-Many-Men on the Ice, Served by Chris Stewart
Shots (Total)
Flyers – 17 (23)
Wild – 7 (14)
3rd Period Notes…
The Flyers came out roaring. They had a great scoring chance within the first minute of the period this time. Weise was set up twice in-front of the net but whiffed on one and Dubnyk stopped the other.
Then, the Wild got a great chance in the first minute. Granlund got loose for a break-a-way from the blue line. But, Elliott stopped it with the blocker. Still 1-0 Wild.
Around the 13:00 mark, Dale Weise got free again. This time on a break-a-way. Dubnyk didn’t need to make a big save as Weise shot it right into him. Wasted opportunity for the Flyers.
It has been all Flyers since the Dale Weise break-a-way. However, with just under 7 minutes left, the Wild get free on a 2 on 1 after a sloppy pass to the point. But, Gostisbehere skated hard to get back and dove to block the pass across ice. Still 1-0 Wild.
The Flyers looking to tie the game, pull the goalie with 1:31 left. However, after one scramble in-front, the Wild break out and Staal scores an empty net goal.
However, they weren’t done. Hakstol for some reason pulled the goalie again. And, Zucker got a lucky bounce off a clear to find the empty net. 3-0 Wild.
Game ends 3-0 Wild.
Scoring
1:09 Wild Eric Staal (Empty Net) Assisted by Mikael Granlund & Jonas Brodin
0:37 Wild Jason Zucker (Empty Net) Assisted by Devin Dubnyk
Penalties
None
Shots (Total)
Flyers – 7 (30)
Wild – 6 (20)
The Flyers were shutout again by the Minnesota Wild 3-0. The scoreline was bolstered due too two empty net goals. Dubnyk was the star again stopping all 30 Flyers shots.
The Flyers are back at it again Thursday in Winnipeg against the Jets. Gametime is 8:00pm. The game will air on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports
