The Flyers came into tonight’s game sitting six points back of playoff spot. The Canadiens on the other hand came in sitting only three points back of a playoff spot. Unfroutantely for the Ornage and Black, they were on the wrong side of things tonight all but pretty much putting an end to their playoff hopes.
The first period was pretty laid back for both teams. Early in the 1st, Canadiens defenseman Brett Kulak rang one off the post, but the puck stayed out. A little later on in the period, Joel Armia found the back of the net for the Habs but well after the whistle resulting in No Goal.
In what seemed would be a scoreless first period came a goal with less than two minutes to go in the 1st thanks to Brendan Gallagher. Flyers LW Oskar Lindblom failed to clear the puck out of the Flyers zone eventually resulting in a Brendan Gallagher goal to give the Canadiens a 1-0 lead. Tomas Tatar and former Flyer Christian Folin picked up the helpers.
The Flyers failed to create much sustained offensive pressure despite recording eight shots on goal. If you can’t create quality scoring chances, your most likely not going to score especially against a goalie like Carey Price.
One positive in the first period for the Flyers was goaltender Carter Hart, who stopped 10 of 11 shots fired his way. He once again looked extremely composed making nice saves on Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Brett Kulak, and Nate Thompson.
It was more of the same for the Flyers in the 2nd Period. They failed to sustain offensive zone pressure and didn’t get much traffic in front of the net. The one chance they did get came courtesy of a Shayne Gostisbehere wrist shot that Price turned away.
The Canadians, on the other hand, were able to capitalize early on in the second period extending there lead to 2-0. Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber, who came into the game with eleven goals on the season, took a shot from the point that found its way through extending Montreal’s lead.
As for the 3rd Period, it was a whole different story. Things seemed to open up and both teams were able to get some quality scoring chances, something the Flyers were unable to do a lot of in the first and second periods.
With a little over seven minutes gone in the second, the Flyers got their first and only powerplay of the game after Christian Folin was whistled for holding. With the Flyers down 2-0, a goal on the powerplay was almost a must.
A little over a minute into the powerplay, Claude Giroux fired a shot towards the net with James van Riemsdyk in front. Carey Price made the initial save on Giroux and also made the save on Couturiers initial attempt. Luckily for the Flyers, he was unable to save the second attempt as Couturier roofed it over Price’s glove to cut the deficit to 2-1. James van Riemsdyk and Claude Giroux were credited with the helpers. With that goal, Couturier reached 30 goals for the second time in his career.
Despite registering a total of 33 shots on goal, the Flyers were only able to solve Price once, who stopped 33 of 34 shots fired his way.
Down late in the 3rd, Scott Gordon was left with no choice but to pull Carter Hart with under two minutes to go. Unfortunately for the Flyers, the Canadiens were able to get the puck out of there zone and down the ice leading to a Max Domi empty-net goal with 1:05 remaining in the 3rd putting the Canadiens up 3-1. Montreal would go onto win by this score.
With last nights loss, the Flyers now sit five points back of Montreal, who sit a point out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Realistically, the Flyers season is over. In order to squeeze into the playoffs, they’d have to pretty much win out while also getting help from other teams. On the other hand, they’re still in mathematically. They sit eight points back of the final wildcard spot with nine games remaining. You just never know how it’s going to pan out.
Next Up:
Practice:
The Flyers are scheduled to hold an optional practice at 10:30AM this morning at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey before flying out to Chicago.
Game Action:
The Flyers are back in action Thursday night as they head to Chicago to take on Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks. In the previous meeting between the two teams, the Flyers came away victorious on home ice defeating the Blackhawks by a final score of 4-0. Puck Drop is set for 8:30PM.
As always, Lets Go Flyers!
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
