The Flyers entered last night’s game against the Sharks riding an 8-game losing streak. The Sharks entered the matchup following a dominant 4-0 shutout victory over the Jets. They looked to stay hot against the struggling Flyers.
Flyers Lineup
Giroux – Couturier – Voracek
Martel – Patrick – Simmonds
Raffl – Filppula – Konecny
Lehtera – Laughton – Weise
Provorov – MacDonald
Gostisbehere – Hagg
Sanheim – Manning
Starter – Neuvirth
Backup – Elliott
Scratches
20 – Leier
40 – Weal
3 – Gudas (Suspended)
1st Period Notes…
Just 15 seconds into the game, Valterri Filppula gave up a bad turnover in center ice. It led to an odd man rush and a quality scoring chance for the Sharks just 30 seconds in.
However, on the next shft, the Flyers got an opportunity and buried it. Giroux got free in-front and got a beautiful cross ice feed from Voracek and slammed it home for the goal. 1-0 Flyers.
Never leave Claude Giroux wide open, you'll pay for it. pic.twitter.com/s4lhIpslkH
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) November 29, 2017
Then, after a scrum behind the net, Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere and Sharks Tomas Hertl walked away each with 2-minute minors. Game to 4 on 4.
After the penalties expired, already in the offensive zone, the Sharks got a great chance in-front. But, Neuvirth was up to it and deflected it into the netting behind the goal. Still 1-0 Flyers, but the Sharks have all the pressure now.
Then, just over halfway through the 1st, the Sharks tied it. On a non-threatening rush, Sharks Chris Tierney got a shot off that deflected off Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim’s stick to beat Neuvirth. All Sharks still. Game tied 1-1.
However, the Flyers got a nice chance off a 2 on 1 rush. Flyer Travis Konecny broke out for a 2 on 1 with Michael Raffl. But instead of passing, Konecny shot it and was robbed by Dell. Still 1-1.
Dell gloves Konecny's shot on the 2-on-1 pic.twitter.com/33PiCSBUBq
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) November 29, 2017
Then, the Flyers imploded again. First, off a very weak covered faceoff, a Shark got free in-front for a point blank chance. But, Neuvirth made the save. However, Simmonds was whistled for slashing. It gets worse. Then, just 40 seconds into the kill, Michael Raffl fired on into the stands from his own zone. Sharks to a 5 on 3 for 1:19.
However, just when you thought the Flyers killed the first penalty off, Neuvirth reacted extremely slowly to a Joe Thornton shot, which beat him easily. 2-1 Sharks. The Flyers did though kill the latter part off of Michael Raffl’s penalty off.
But, with just 15 seconds left in the 1st, Filppula was whistled for a penalty. Sharks carry over 1:45 of powerplay time into the 2nd. Period ends 2-1 Sharks.
Scoring
19:12 Flyers Claude Giroux Assisted by Jake Voracek & Andrew MacDonald
9:31 Sharks Chris Tierney Assisted by Brent Burns & Brendan Dillon
1:18 Sharks Powerplay Goal Joe Thornton Assisted by Joe Pavelski & Logan Couture
Penalties
16:00 Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere 2 mins Roughing
16:00 Sharks Tomas Hertl 2 mins Slashing
3:09 Flyers Wayne Simmonds 2 mins Slashing
2:28 Flyers Michael Raffl 2 mins Delay of Game
0:15 Flyers Valterri Filppula 2 mins Holding the Stick
Shots
Flyers – 8
Sharks – 12
2nd Period Notes…
The Flyers killed off the remaining 1:45 of Filppula’s penalty to start the period but never generated anything from the boost in the penalty kill.
However, about a couple minutes later, off a Weise break-away, the Flyers got a powerplay after Brent Burns slashed Weise on his way in on net. At first I said I would rather have the powerplay. Man did I get that wrong. Just 9 seconds in the powerplay, Voracek tripped a Shark leaving the zone, ending the man advantage.
Then, just before the halfway point of the game, the Flyers got a powerplay off a play I am still trying to figure out. Nothing happened again, except Simmonds took a penalty to end the powerplay short. The Flyers killed off the ensuring mini powerplay by the Sharks.
Around the 6:30 mark, the Flyers got their best chance of the period. Off great offensive zone pressure, Simmonds just missed a Provorov pass for a slam dunk. Still 2-1 Sharks.
But, things get worse for the Flyers. After an extended stay in the offensive zone, the Sharks scored off a point shot by Marc-Edouard Vlasic. 3-1 Sharks.
The Sharks controlled the rest of the period and had a couple more scoring opportunities but no goals. Period ends 3-1 Sharks after 2.
Scoring
3:56 Sharks Marc-Edouard Vlasic Assisted by Logan Couture & Justin Braun
Penalties
15:49 Sharks Brent Burns 2 mins Slashing
15:40 Flyers Jake Voracek 2 mins Tripping
10:39 Sharks Joe Pavelski 2 mins Boarding
8:58 Flyers Wayne Simmonds 2 mins Tripping
Shots (Total)
Flyers – 10 (18)
Sharks – 17 (29)
3rd Period Notes…
This may come as a shock, but the way this Flyers season has gone, nothing should be. The Flyers sure know how to blow a 2-goal lead but not come back from one.
So, there was about a 12 minute long stretch where the game had two whistles, both for icing. Neither team generated anything and it looked really just a game of pong. After, the Flyers pulled the goalie with about 3 minutes left, but nothing ever got close to the net.
Game ends 3-1 Sharks.
Scoring
None
Penalties
None
Shots (Total)
Flyers – 5 (23)
Sharks – 5 (34)
Flyers lose 3-1 to the Sharks. The Flyers losing streak is now at 9. Flyers have the day off tomorrow, then back at it with practice on Thursday and Friday before a Saturday afternoon game against the Bruins.
Result – Flyers 1 – Sharks 3 Loss
Record – 8 – 10 – 7
Next Game – 12 / 2 Boston Bruins, Philadelphia PA
Mandatory Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum
