The Philadelphia Flyers ended a 5 game winless streak (0-4-1) on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. The Flyers were looking to continue their winning ways on Monday night against the Las Vegas Golden Knights. This was the Golden Knights first trip into the Wells Fargo Center.
The scouting report on Mrazek lately has been to simply get pucks on net. The Golden Knights executed that strategy early and often by firing pucks from all angles. The strategy paid off when a centering pass deflected off of Mrazek’s stick and into the net. The power play goal by Eric Haula was his 25th of the season and gave Vegas a 1-0 lead after the first period.
The Flyers came out firing to start the second period and got a goal early. Claude Giroux scored his 25th goal of the season off of a forced turnover by Sean Couturier.
Giroux knows what to do! #Flyers #FlyersTalk #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/1GHCAhOV8z
— Matt Martin (@TheRealMJMartin) March 13, 2018
Marc Andre Fleury made point blank saves on Nolan Patrick and Oskar Lindblom late in the 2nd period. Lindblom is still looking for his elusive first NHL goal or point.
Lindblom is getting closer to getting his first. It has to come soon. He is putting himself in the right places to score goals. When the first one goes in they will come in bunches. #LetsGoFlyers #Flyers #FlyersTalk pic.twitter.com/EXC3IMvDMj
— Matt Martin (@TheRealMJMartin) March 13, 2018
Despite carrying the play for much of the period the Flyers came away tied 1-1 after the 2nd period.
The Flyers carried their momentum into the early stages of the 3rd period. Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim’s bid to put the Flyers ahead was stopped by Fleury. A couple of minutes later it was Sanheim who was in the penalty box when William Karlsson scored the second power play goal of the game for Las Vegas. Karlsson’s 36th goal of the season would give the Golden Knights a short-lived 2-1 lead.
Just over a minute later Wayne Simmonds would score a power play goal. The goal was Simmonds’ 21st of the season and tied the game 2-2. The Simmonds goal broke the Flyers out of a 1 for 23 slump on the power play. The Flyers power play once stood solidly in the top-10, but now ranks 17th in the league.
The game would remain tied until Ryan Carpenter scored his 8th goal of the season with 2:40 left in the third period. Flyers coach Dave Hakstol described the play as “we couldn’t get a puck out and got caught on the outside of our coverage.” The inability to clear the defensive zone has plagued the Flyers at various points in time this season. For the second time in five days it cost them at least a point and put them on the losing end of a 3-2 score.
A Look at the Numbers
The Flyers are now 1-1-0 vs. the Golden Knights with each team winning on the road.
Sean Couturier ended a streak of 4 games without a point and now has 1 goal and 3 assists in 2 games vs. Las Vegas this season
Claude Giroux extended his point streak to seven games (3G 4A). He now has 2 goals and 1 assist in 2 games vs. Las Vegas this season
Travis Konecny now has 3 assists in 2 games vs. Las Vegas this season
Shayne Gostisbehere recorded his first point in 7 games with his assist on the Simmonds PP goal
The Flyers have still won 8 of their last 10 against Western Conference teams
Claude Giroux is just 2 points from tying Eric Lindros for 5th all-time in Flyers history
The Flyers record is now 35-24-11, 81 points
My Three Stars
- Marc Andre Fleury (LV) – 38 saves on 40 shots, .950 SV%
- Ryan Carpenter (LV) – 1 goal, +1, 3 SOG
- Claude Giroux (PHI) – 1 goal, +1, 5 SOG
What’s Next
The Flyers stay at home and play the Columbus Blue Jackets at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, March 15th. Broadcast: NBCSP & 93.3FM at 7PM
The Flyers are 2-0-1 vs. the Blue Jackets this season, including a 2-1 win at Wells Fargo Center on February 22nd. The Flyers are 5-6-5 in their last 16 games vs. the Blue Jackets and 5-5-0 in their last 10 games at home vs. Columbus.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
