Last week, the Philadelphia Flyers dropped two consecutive games to the Detroit Red Wings. They’re 0-2-0 since the NHL All-Star break.
Tonight, the Flyers took their game to the other side of Pennsylvania. Visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia is looking for their first road win of 2022. Following an overtime loss, they’re still searching for their first road victory in 2022.
Adding salt to the wound, Sidney Crosby scored his five hundredth goal.
“I wish he did it against somebody else.”
Mike Yeo; 2/15/2022
First Period
Throughout the first period, the Pittsburgh Penguins paced the on-ice events. On a couple of entries into the offensive zone, the Penguins made a sloppy pass, transitioning into a stream of odd-man rushes for the Philadelphia Flyers. Eventually, this momentum carried out of a defensive zone faceoff win.
Oskar Lindblom popped a neutral zone pass to Claude Giroux. On a 2v1 rush, Cam Atkinson dished the puck before Giroux scored with 6:13 remaining.
As the Flyers do, they allowed their opponent to tie the game in short order.
“Too many good things not backed up all the way through, and obviously we’re going to have to correct that. We got some good opponents coming up, and we can’t be satisfied with one point. We can’t be satisfied with mostly good efforts. We have to have everybody here.”
Mike Yeo; 2/15/2022
Dominik Simon separated from Connor Bunnaman on the crease. Marcus Pettersson slipped a hard pass to the crease, where Simon finished the deflection with 5:51 remaining. Soon after, Pittsburgh took to the powerplay. Crosby scored his five hundredth goal against Philadelphia, assisted by Evgeni Malkin with 3:26 remaining. Heading into the second period, the Penguins led 2-1.
“Unbelievable accomplishment. He’s a heck of a player, and we knew that coming into this game we’re going to have to do our best to shut their line down, just try to pressure them in the defensive zone as quick as we could, but obviously, he’s a heck of a player. Congratulations to him; it’s tough when it’s against you.”
Nick Seeler; 2/15/2022
Second Period
Less than a minute into the second period, the Philadelphia Flyers answered Crosby’s milestone. James van Riemsdyk attempted to center to Travis Konecny, but the puck bounced to Scott Laughton. With the puck on his stick, he tied the game, 2-2, with 19:03 remaining.
Malkin remained a menace on the powerplay. Another opportunity knocked, but Carter Hart answered with saves.
Nick Seeler blasted a rocket from the blue line to give the Flyers another lead, 3-2, set up by Konecny with 9:17 remaining.
Several minutes later, Justin Braun added another with 2:51 remaining. Philadelphia had all the momentum, taking the game in stride. van Riemsdyk missed wide, but Braun put the puck on goal immediately. Traffic in front of the net allowed the puck to bounce off a body and into the net. The Flyers held a 4-2 lead.
Third Period
Konecny remained busy. He drove the puck into the offensive zone, but DeSmith denied a rebound chance by Laughton.
Another powerplay opportunity forged momentum back towards the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby attempted a cross-slot feed to Kris Letang, but Letang didn’t get all of it. Jake Guentzel cleaned the crease, scoring a powerplay goal with 7:24 remaining.
“On the penalty kill, that’s just a terrible bounce for us. Guy whiffs on it, hits off our stick, goes off my pad; just unlucky.”
Carter Hart; 2/15/2022
Seconds later, Seeler and Morgan Frost were unable to win a puck battle at the boards, allowing Danton Heinen to locate Chad Ruhwedel on a one-timer with 7:06 remaining.
The Philadelphia Flyers had opportunities to take another lead in regulation. Frost almost successfully used Isaac Ratcliffe as a screen, but DeSmith made a glove save. On the same powerplay, DeSmith didn’t allow a rebound on a chance from Giroux. After three periods, the scoreboard read 4-4.
Overtime
Giroux didn’t get the opportunity to shoot, losing the puck on the offensive zone entry. Going the opposite way, Letang took one shot, and he got all of it. He had the game-winning overtime finale, securing the 5-4 victory for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Next Up
Next, the Philadelphia Flyers host the Washington Capitals on Thursday, February 17th, 2022. The puck drops at 7pm.
(Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre)
