Post Game Recap: Flyers Fight Back For Big Win On Eric Lindros #88 Retirement Night

Philadelphia entered last night’s game coming off a sluggish effort in New York on Tuesday. The Flyers looked to rebound against a struggling Leafs team. Toronto comes in losing three straight. The Leafs look to end a three game losing streak on an emotional night in Philly for Eric Lindros #88 retirement night.

Flyers Lineup

Giroux – Couturier – Konecny

Raffl – Filppula – Voracek

Weal – Patrick – Simmonds

Lehtera – Laughton – Goulbourne

Provorov – Gostisbehere

MacDonald – Hagg

Manning – Gudas

Starter – Neuvirth

Backup – Elliott

Scratches

20 – Leier

22 – Weise

6 – Sanheim

1st Period Notes…
With the pregame retirement of Eric Lindros’s #88, the game started slow and sloppy. Well, that could be because the game was delayed an hour for the ceremony.

However, it was Toronto who came out hot. Neuvirth was tested early but was up for the task. His performance included a big save on a double deflection not even two minutes into the game.

But, the Flyers 4th line would be the next line to make its mark. It came from a Flyer who was reinserted back into the lineup for that very reason. Goulbourne finished off a high energy shift with a big check on a Leaf trying to keep the puck in the zone.

Then, came the best chance of the period. Toronto broke out on a 2v1 and Neuvirth stood tall and robbed former Flyer James van Riemsdyk. Still 0-0 just over 8 minutes in.

The period really leveled off after that. But, when pressure flipped, it came from the Maple Leafs.

However, it would be the Flyers who would get rewarded for their effort. The Flyers got a power-play late in the period after Shayne Gostisbehere was tripped off a face-off.

The Flyers had a couple good scoring opportunities, but nothing came from them. They carry over 1 second of power-play time into the 2nd period. 0-0 after 1st.

Scoring

None

Penalties

1:59 Maple Leafs Zach Hyman 2 minutes Tripping

Shots

Flyers – 9

Maple Leafs – 8

2nd Period Notes…
The Flyers came out slow and sloppy to start the 2nd. It was capped off by Flyers Andrew MacDonald, who got on the wrong side of a Leafs player and took him down. Leafs to their 1st PP of the game just two minutes into the 2nd.

However, it was the Flyers who actually faired better. It was a great penalty kill by the Flyers. They didn’t allow a shot on goal and had the best chance on a 2v1 with Giroux and Couturier.

The Flyers momentum continued with a great shift by the 2nd line just before the halfway point of the 2nd. It started when Jordan Weal stole a pass, fed Simmonds, who found Weal for the high quality scoring chance. Still 0-0 halfway through the game.

But, the Leafs would strike shortly there after. With an Ivan Provorov failed keep at the blue line, Sean Couturier didn’t know he had a Leaf behind him and slowly went for the puck and was beaten to the loose puck. That Leaf, Connor Brown, skated hard to the puck and went in on a break-away where he beat Neuvirth. 1-0 Leafs.

Just 28 seconds later, after a close call for offsides, the Leafs scored again. This time it was Frederik Gauthier who fired home a shot through heavy traffic in-front of Neuvirth. 2-0 Leafs.

Looking at it, it was a good call by Dave Hakstol to not challenge it because it was extremely close. If he would have lost, the Flyers would have gotten a penalty.

The period really slowed after that. Period ends 2-0 Leafs.

Scoring

7:03 Leafs Connor Brown Assists Zach Hyman

6:35 Leafs Frederik Gauthier Assists Matt Martin & Jake Gardiner

Penalties

18:01 Flyers Andrew MacDonald 2 minutes Hooking

Shots (Total)

Flyers – 12 (21)

Maple Leafs – 11 (19)

3rd Period Notes…
Man did the Flyers come out hot. After, a great shift by the top line, Nolan Patrick and his line-mates jumped over the boards. Patrick would enter the zone on a great individual effort and score a beauty to cut the lead in half. 2-1 Leafs.

But, the Flyers would hit a bump in the road on an extremely weak call by the referees. Lehtera was called for tripping the Leafs 6’5″ 4th line center, Frederik Gauthier, by barely touching him. Flyers just didn’t kill off the penalty, they scored a shorthanded goal. Wayne Simmonds put home a 2v1 with Valtteri Filppula. 2-2.

Filppula to Simmonds shorthanded! pic.twitter.com/zNuaNUZJw8

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) January 19, 2018

Then, it was Michal Neuvirth’s time to shine. Off of a bad bounce behind the net, Neuvirth had to make a couple good saves in tight. He was up for the task, though.

The Flyers would get a power-play just before the half-way mark of the 3rd. However, they never really generated any sustained pressure and the Leafs had the better chance on the penalty kill.

After the Leafs killed off the penalty, the game really became fun. Both teams would generate pressure after pressure after pressure. However, both goailes stood tall and the game remained tied.

But, the save of the night happened with 2:45 left. Off of a Leafs 2v1, Neuvirth made a diving leg save to rob Patrick Marleau. Game still 2-2.

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/954195748530409473

Period ends 2-2. OT Here we come.

Scoring

18:27 Flyers Nolan Patrick Unassisted

16:35 Flyers Wayne Simmonds Assists Valtteri Filppula & Andrew MacDonald

Penalties

17:53 Flyers Jori Lehtera 2 minutes Tripping

11:30 Leafs Leo Komarov 2 minutes Interference

Shots (Total)

Flyers – 15 (36)

Maple Leafs – 11 (30)