After last night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Rangers, the Philadelphia Flyers wanted to close the Rookie Series at PPL Center on a high note.
The Flyers scratched and clawed their way to force overtime last night on a Massimo Rizzo goal with just 14.4 seconds left, only for Brennan Othmann to score the lone goal in the shootout for the Rangers to win it.
Results may not be everything in Rookie Camp. The main goal is to help develop prospects and get a look at how players in the pipeline are performing, if they’re in good shape, and what they should be working on. However, it just means more when there’s a rivalry game on the line, especially one as revered and hate-filled between Philadelphia and New York.
The Flyers jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Rangers fought back in the second period with two goals of their own.
2023 7th-round pick Matteo Mann scored the opening goal in the first period. Mann scored just 6 goals in 42 games with QMJHL Saint John last season, but he was active all game and was rewarded with a nice goal. Camp invite and Phantoms signee Sawyer Boulton, who was a wrecking ball on skates all weekend, scored in the second period to camp off an impressive two-game stretch. The Rangers responded in the second with goals from Matthew Robertson and Adam Edström. After a scoreless third period, Samu Tuomaala was the overtime hero for the Flyers to send the crowd at PPL Center home happy.
Camp invite Sam Hillebrandt recorded the win for the Flyers, stopping 22 of 24 shots after relieving starter and 2023 2nd-round pick Carson Bjarnason. Hugo Ollas was impressive but was the losing goaltender of record for New York after taking over for Talyn Boyko.
FIRST PERIOD
The Flyers got an early power play just over a minute into the game as New York’s Brett Berard received a roughing minor after a late hit on Jett Luchanko with a scrum ensuing afterwards.
At the tail end of the penalty, Matteo Mann stepped into the slot and snapped a shot by Talyn Boyko to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead just 3:05 into the contest.
“Obviously an ideal start,” said Mann to Reading Royals broadcaster and PR manager Erik Jesberger after the game. “You know, it’s not often you start games like that, but it definitely helped the confidence going into the rest of the game and helped me settle down pretty early in the game which is always nice.”
Carson Bjarnason started to really shine after the Mann goal. New York had solid offensive pressure and kept the Flyers in their zone for extended periods, but Bjarnason made a few key saves to keep his team ahead.
Alexis Gendron took a slashing penalty with 6:51 remaining in the first period, sending the Rangers onto their first power play. Bjarnason again stood tall and kept the Rangers at bay while his team was shorthanded.
The Flyers had a golden chance to double the lead after a play between Luchanko and Elliot Desnoyers led to a golden opportunity in front for Tuomaala, but Boyko made the big save to keep the score at 1-0.
Despite being outshot 14-9, the Flyers held onto their one-goal advantage heading into the second period.
SECOND PERIOD
Sam Hillebrandt took over goaltending duties to begin the second period, which was expected as Phantoms head coach and Rookie Camp head coach Ian Laperrière explained Saturday morning.
With about 11 minutes remaining, Zayde Wisdom made a tremendous play in the defensive zone and helped drive an end-to-end rush with Jacob Gaucher and Sawyer Boulton that saw Boulton ram home the feed from Wisdom to make it a 2-0 game at 6:29.
Shortly after, the Rangers earned their second power play of the game after a Hunter McDonald penalty and finally capitalized on a Matthew Robertson one-timer that found space over the glove of Hillebrandt.
The Flyers then had some slight offensive pressure before a major penalty and game misconduct were handed out to Berard for spearing, giving the Flyers a prime opportunity to restore their two-goal lead.
Unfortunately, Adam Edström had other ideas and stuffed home a goal on the breakaway to even the game at 2-2 while shorthanded.
The Flyers almost gave up another shorty to Brennan Othmann before regaining control of the situation, but they couldn’t find the back of the net before the second period wound down.
THIRD PERIOD
Each team went back and forth with minimal pressure, but then Philadelphia started to take control and establish extensive offensive zone time around the midway point of the period. It was the most sustained pressure the Flyers had given the Rangers all night, but Hugo Ollas stood tall for New York and kept it a tie game.
With 7:50 left, Spencer Gill was sent to the box for hooking, giving the Rangers a power play opportunity to take the lead. Hillebrandt made a spectacular save on another Robertson one-time attempt during the man advantage, and shortly after that he kept out a puck that caromed off the post from the stick of Victor Mancini to help kill off the penalty.
Ollas then responded with a save of his own on McDonald at the other end for the Rangers as the clock ticked with nearly five minutes of regulation time remaining.
Hillebrandt had to make one last great glove save with 5.5 seconds remaining, and for a second consecutive evening in Allentown these two teams headed to overtime.
OVERTIME
Just 33 seconds into the extra frame, Luchanko passed the puck to Emil Andrae from behind the net, and then the blueliner spotted Samu Tuomaala at the backdoor. The 2021 2nd-round pick deposited the puck into a yawning cage to give the Flyers a 3-2 victory in overtime.
3 STARS OF THE GAME: 1) Samu Tuomaala – PHI, 2) Jacob Gaucher – PHI, 3) Sam Hillebrandt – PHI
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