The Flyers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night in Raleigh by a score of 2-1 in overtime.
With the win and a Blue Jackets loss, the Flyers jumped back into a playoff spot. Plus, they created a small gap on some of the teams below them.
With the Flyers win tonight and the Blue Jackets loss, they moved back into a playoff spot WC1. #Flyers #FlyersTalk #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/J9KJ4F84gU
— Brandon J. Sommermann (@B_Sommermann) February 7, 2018
The Flyers now stand a point ahead of both Columbus and the Islanders. But, they do have a game in hand on the Islanders. So that could possibly become a 3 point lead.
However, bigger gaps to teams below them are starting to open up. Flyers have a 2 point lead over the Hurricanes with a game in hand along with a 4 point lead over the struggling Rangers.
Hopefully, with the Flyers victory last night, they can start a run to stabilize their playoff hopes and move up the playoff ladder.
Here are 4 more observations from the Flyers 2-1 OT win over the Hurricanes…
3.1 Left In Overtime
With 3.1 left in overtime, Jordan Weal slide a ice-level shot through Cam Ward’s five-hole to score and give the Flyers the 2-1 victory. It was Weal’s 7th goal of the season and ended a 8-game goalless streak.
Congrats to Weal on his first OT goal! #PHIvsCAR pic.twitter.com/aBU5GgiIer
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 7, 2018
The goal was set up by a sequence that saw both Flyers goalie Brian Elliott and Flyers forward Claude Giroux make stick saves on the goal-line.
Elliott and Giroux oh my god ?? #Flyers pic.twitter.com/J63iK1k2Ci
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) February 7, 2018
This is the 2nd straight game the Flyers have scored a goal in the final 3-seconds of a period to get points. Nolan Patrick scored with 2.6 seconds left in the 3rd period on Saturday to force overtime and get the Flyers a much needed point.
Elliott Shines In Return
Brian Elliott did not get the 1st star of the game. However, he deserved to be considered for it.
In his return from injury, Elliott stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced. The lone goal came on the back-end of a Carolina 4-minute power-play.
The goal wasn’t Elliott’s fault. Robert Hagg, who had been on the ice for the whole 1st power-play for the Hurricanes, was a tad slow tying up the man in-front who beat Elliott for the goal.
But, Elliott rebounded strongly. He made timely save after timely save for the Flyers. Something the Flyers could not get from backups Michal Neuvirth & Alex Lyon in his absence.
Officials Leave Game Early
With around two minutes left in overtime, Flyers Sean Couturier was pulled down and then hooked on a clear goal scoring chance.
Couturier gets hooked and then tripped but NO CALL. pic.twitter.com/HSfURmm7lA
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) February 7, 2018
However, neither of the penalties were called. Which led Couturier to question the referee at the next stoppage. Where he just got a shrug of the shoulders from both referee’s. But, this wasn’t the first blunder for the referee’s in this clash.
With 36 seconds remaining in the 3rd period, the referee’s granted a timeout to the Hurricanes after they iced the puck. However, a new rule this year took that opportunity away from the icing team to do just that.
But, somehow these referee’s forgot about the rule book and granted the timeout. These officials need to answer for their mistakes and I think the league will be wanting some answers too. I know the Flyers are.
Bottom Six Balance?
Before last night’s game, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol mixed up the bottom six. It was a move to find balance and stability to complement the Flyers already strong top 2 lines.
Ever since the original 1st line, Giroux-Couturier-Voracek, was broken up, Dave Hakstol has tried desperately to find balance and stability throughout the lineup.
Hakstol has found something with the Flyers new 1st line, Giroux-Couturier-Konecny, and his found a competitive line to go behind them, Voracek-Patrick-Simmonds. However, the bottom six has been a mix and match all season. But, his new chances may be paying off.
The Flyers new 3rd line, Leier-Laughton-Weal, and 4th line, Lehtera-Filppula-Raffl, showcased some potential. Both lines contributed multiple good shifts in their times together.
However, these lines didn’t last very long. Dave Hakstol went back to Raffl-Laughton-Weal and Leier-Filppula-Lehtera midway through the second period. So much for that.
Result : Flyers 2 – Hurricanes 1, WIN
Record : 25 – 19 – 9
Next Game : 2/8 Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia PA, NBCSports Philadelphia 7:00pm
Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
