The Philadelphia Flyers have given up 7 goals in back-to-back games, and lost their most recent one 7-2 in Toronto to the Maple Leafs.
What started with some promise, quickly spiraled into a “cookie night” for the opposing team. Cam York being benched after the first goal against for extended period of time likely contributed to the high volume of defensive breakdowns. Samuel Ersson returned to net, stopping 23 of 30 shots on net. Unfortunately, the Flyers were unable to finish on their scoring chances, and gave up too many goals to have a chance at winning.
A few players who fans want to see earn points did! Jakob Pelletier earned a primary assist on the Flyers first goal. He and Rodrigo Ābols forechecked hard, creating the turnover that lead to Ryan Poehling‘s goal. He is going to need every point he can get to prove to John Tortorella that he belongs (somewhere) in this lineup. Additionally, and most importantly, Matvei Michkov etched a secondary assist on Sean Couturier‘s goal. Jamie Drysdale earned a primary assist on this goal as well, and is another name fans (and likely the front office) love to see earning points.
Here is a Michkov stat to help us cope with the state of the Flyers:
Lastly, Tuesday was another big night for those of us rooting for the highest draft pick possible in the upcoming 2025 NHL draft. Buffalo and Nashville won their games, which only improves the Flyers’ odds for the draft.
Well, this road trip could not come to a more disastrous end. Through their five game road trip, they went 0-4-1. In 4 of those games, they scored 2 or less goals, including a shutout. The Flyers gave up 7 goals in back-to-back games, by TWO different goaltenders.
The power play has continued to be non-existent. Rocky Thompson attempted to role out 5 forwards on the first unit, which led to nothing. It has been a long month for Thompson and the scoreless power play in March. 0-for-31, to be exact.
The Flyers lost all three games to the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. In all three games, the Flyers were only able to score two goals each. No more, no less. Ouch.
York got benched after losing a puck battle on the Leafs’ game-tying goal in the 1st period. He did not see the ice for the remainder of the 1st period, and the entirety for the 2nd period, which featured 4 Toronto goals against. York also sat for the 3rd period, but it is clear his absence from the ice on the 2nd period led to more chaos and defensive breakdowns. When one of your top-4 defensemen who plays 20+ minutes a night is removed, you feel the impact; especially against a team as talented as Toronto.
First Period Highlights
Score: 2-1 TOR
Shots: 10-3 TOR
Faceoff %: 53-47 TOR
In spite of what ensued after the goal, the Flyers did score the first goal! It was effort between Pelletier, Ābols, and Poehling. Pelletier and Ābols forechecked hard, creating a loose puck, Pelletier, who is looking to show more of his abilities to Tortorella, did just that on this goal. After a nice feed, Poehling used Toronto’s defenseman as a screen to rip one past Anthony Stolarz.
Then, reality set in, quickly. After York lost a puck battle behind the net, William Nylander wasted no time finding a wide open John Tavares to bury their first goal. This puck ricocheted off of York, and was the same goal he received his benching for, fans and reporters speculate.
Things didn’t stop there. After getting caught with “too much man,” the Flyers went to the penalty kill but were unable to stop the powerhouse. After a couple of chances, the puck found its way to Nylander again, who attempted a cross-crease pass, where the puck ricocheted off of Nick Seeler and in. Must be nice to have an effective power play.
Second Period Highlights
Score: 6-1 TOR
Shots: 23-11 TOR
Faceoff %: 60-40 TOR
Ah yes, the period where the onslaught really broke the damn. It starts with another lost puck battle behind the net by Emil Andrae. Nylander weaved around with the puck, finding Bobby McMann, who potted his 20th on the season.
Next, their fourth goal was a result a poor hustle and coverage. The Leafs dumped and retrieved the puck around Egor Zamula, where Mitch Marner found Tavares on a mini-breakaway.
On Toronto’s fifth goal, Philadelphia lost the faceoff bad, with multiple Flyers players losing one Leafs player. Sadly, that is all it had to take, and Nylander scored his 40th goal on the season with a wire of a shot from up top of the left circle.
Finally, the sixth goal and Toronto’s last of the period. A lousy turnover and defensemen were nowhere to be found. The Leafs hit the road for a breakaway, and capitalized.
Well, the Flyers did score again, even if this was over. Couturier, who had a few chances in this game, scored a pretty typical hockey goal. Michkov moved the puck low to high, and Drysdale ripped one where Couturier was able to redirect the puck in. There’s your Michkov point of the game.
Third Period Highlights
Score: 7-2 TOR
Shots: 30-19 TOR
Faceoff %: 60-40 TOR
This game ended well before the third period, but technically stuff happened and we have to report it.
The Leafs scored what they thought would be their seventh goal of the night, but it wasn’t going to happen like that on Tortorella’s watch like that. After review, the goal was called back for goaltender interference. At least the video review analysts got a “dub” in tonight’s blowout.
However, that tiny victory for the video review analysts would be short lived, as the Leafs still found a way to score another goal. This time, their seventh goal would count.
UP NEXT
The Flyers will begin their three-game homestand on Thursday when they take on the Montréal Canadiens at the Wells Fargo Center (7:00pm ET; NBCSP).
