Coming off an 11 day break between games, the Philadelphia Flyers have extended their point streak to six games with yet another overtime win, this time against the Seattle Kraken 3-2. The Flyers were rather dormant and sloppy for most of this game but Martin Jones paved the way with key saves throughout, James van Riemsdyk scored twice, and Ivan Provorov ended the game with a beauty in the extra frame.
FIRST PERIOD
The first of a four-game road trip out west, one that represents a very critical juncture of the Flyers’ season, a quick start was paramount if they wanted to get on the right foot. Being off 11 days and dealing with COVID protocols, the first few minutes were a little sloppy but the Flyers got a power play out of it and converted very quickly.
15 seconds into the man advantage, James van Riemsdyk was able to finish off a pretty pass from Claude Giroux in the slot with a quick wrister. Travis Konecny found the captain from the goal mouth and as Giroux does best, he waited off the opposition, who weren’t able to pick off his quick pass to van Riemsdyk. The assist represented his 600th of his career and has him etched in Flyers lore as the second highest point producer in franchise history.
The Flyers goal had the opposite effect on the game as the Seattle Kraken were the ones who seemingly gained momentum. They were breezing into the offensive zone, peppering Martin Jones with shots from every angle, and got the Flyers to take a neutral zone penalty. With 22 seconds remaining on Gerry Mayhew’s penalty, Yanni Gourde ripped a one-timer from the wall past Martin Jones to tie the game at 1.
Off a neutral zone face-off win, Oskar Lindblom mishandled the puck and turned it over for the Kraken to immediately set up. It seemed like every Kraken touched the puck on the goal but finally on the triangle of the umbrella, Morgan Geekie found Carson Soucy who found Gourde waiting with a slapshot. Ivan Provorov screened Martin Jones as he didn’t fully attempt to block the shot either.
Hoping for a reversal of fortunes like the Kraken experienced after the Flyers scored, they weren’t able to gain back much momentum as the Kraken maintained all the pressure till the end of the period. The Flyers only managed 3 shots after scoring the game’s first goal and the Kraken went on to edge them 12-6.
SECOND PERIOD
Looking for some momentum, confidence, puck possession, or anything really, the Flyers got nothing going in the second period. They were thoroughly outplayed again, Martin Jones played on his head several times throughout the period, and the Flyers didn’t record their first shot until there was 8:43 remaining in the period. In total they were outshot 11-5 in the second stanza and had a fruitless power play near the end.
THIRD PERIOD
The third period continued with the same trend as the first two as the Flyers couldn’t muster up anything. 6 minutes into the period, with no shots on goal and very little puck possession, the Flyers found themselves hemmed in their own zone and the Kraken potentially taking the lead. Jeremy Lauzon took a slap shot from the point but as the puck was shot, Jaden Schwartz impeded Martin Jones pathway. Initially ruled a goal, Mike Yeo challenged the call and subsequently won as the game remained tied and the goal disallowed.
The disallowed goal seemingly woke up the dormant Flyers as they were finally able to get some offensive zone time and record their first shot of the period 8 minutes in. Finally putting their foot on the pedal, the Flyers were able to draw a penalty but unfortunately weren’t able to capitalize. Still, it was their best looking sequence of offensive puck possession all game.
With the Kraken pressuring again and with 5:28 remaining in the third period, Jeremy Lauzon got back the goal he thought he originally scored as he was able to rip a snap shot blocker side past a standing Jones. Morgan Frost got the puck out of a scrum behind the net but soon after turned it over and the Kraken quickly set up as Adam Larsson found his partner wide open on the wall.
In an odd turn of events, 15 seconds later no less, van Riemsdyk tied the game with his second goal of the game. Giroux dumped the puck into the zone as van Riemsdyk was able to retrieve the puck. He swung the puck around and found the defensive pairing of Rasmus Ristolainen and Travis Sanheim as they went D-to-D. Sanheim perfectly found van Riemsdyk all alone on Philipp Grubauer’s glove side as he was able to tie the game unimpeded. If there was ever a time to gain some momentum and tie the game, 15 seconds is a pretty quick response.
OVERTIME
Taking this game to overtime extended the point streak to 6 games, but being able to take this game to the 3-on-3 shouldn’t be enough for the Flyers. Luckily they were able to edge the Kraken, who dominated them all game long, with a beautiful breakaway finish by Ivan Provorov. Provorov dropped it to Kevin Hayes, charged up the ice himself, Hayes found him with a perfect stretch pass as he dangled Grubauer and had an open net to finish it off in.
Martin Jones made 34 saves en route to his 6th win of the season, James van Riemsdyk scored both goals in regulation, Ivan Provorov added the game winner in overtime, with Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, Kevin Hayes, Travis Sanheim, and Rasmus Ristolainen chipping in with assists.
For the Kraken, Philipp Grubauer allowed 3 goals on 22 shots and Yanni Gourde and Jeremy Lauzon chipped in with a goal apiece. Carson Soucy, Morgan Geekie, Adam Larsson, and Calle Jarnkrok added the assists.
It wasn’t the prettiest win but at this point in the season the Flyers will take them any way they can get them. A six-game point streak (5-0-1) is absolutely huge after coming off a disastrous 10 game winless streak. The Flyers will fly off to San Jose as they face the Sharks tomorrow night.
