In between Sean Couturier logging in his 700th career NHL game, Shayne Gostisbehere returning to Philadelphia, and the aggressive traffic driving to the Wells Fargo Center, there was a hockey game!
Here is how my brain dissected all 60 minutes in real time.
First Period – Way too much life for Arizona!
- Justin Braun continues his excellent start to the season getting back in transition to stop a potential breakaway. No shot on net at all. He’s done more than just hold his own in the Top 4 spot. It’s been legit production which I did not see coming and here’s to not jinxing him the rest of the night
- Laughton and Lindblom almost connect on a 2-on-1! Lindblom puts it right into Vejmelka’s skate blade. So much open net…. Missed opportunity!
- Braun rips one on net from the blue line. Redirection in front
- Flyers coming in waves a bit after a slower start.
- Sanhiem manhandled off the puck WAY too easily by Phil Kessel in the defensive zone. Putrid effort
- Coyotes respond with a wave of their own. Lindblom tripped after a blocked shot and Flyers head to the power play. Too much life for Arizona to this point. If the Flyers can score early, maybe it relates to a punch in the gut? Remember, they are 0-8-1
- Provorov up top (which I don’t necessarily love) with Atkinson joining PP1. Claude Giroux 2 beautiful shots, but no finish. One-timer clap bomb cranks crossbar. He seems to be letting them fly harder and more efficiently this year from the naked eye
- 4-on-2 rush for Arizona coming out of the box. Great save by Carter Hart!
- CARTER HART stops Kessel – about 2 minutes left in the period. Incredible job to keep the game tied
- Coyotes hit post with seconds ticking down. Sloppy sloppy sloppy way to end the first 20
Second Period – The Lead That Wasn’t
- My thought before puck drop: Flyers have had some tough 2nd periods so far. Will this be any different?
- Sanhiem jumps up in the play after a feed from Atkinson. Solid recognition to join the rush
- Seeler lays down fully on his stomach to break up a 2-on-1. Kessel tries to do a little too much
- Flyers 4th line buzzing! MacEwen high slot great chance
- Yotes counter instantly —- game is open and flowing. Not what I’m looking for if I’m the Flyers…..
- MacEwen covering the front of the net and breaks up a backdoor pass attempt. Important to notice the 4th line players doing little things right in the D zone
- Excellent pinch by Braun to keep the puck in the zone. Laughton, Lindblom, and JVR go to work down low. Should have resulted in a PP as Lindblom hit up high (?)
- Clayton Keller in transition during a Flyers change — horrible Couturier turnover prior — not a recipe for success
- Flyers Goal Comes off the Board: Cam Atkinson cleans up the garbage in front! Brassard banging away at the side of the net. Vejmelka had it covered and Brassard kicked it free out of his glove. I’m not against this goal not counting, but I don’t understand how the refs overturned the call due to circumstances.
- 4th line again making noise: NAK on a 3-on-1 elects to shoot right into the glove. Probably could have done more, but I also understand not trying to do too much.
- Ristolainen finds Lindblom net front & one touches to Laughton. Missed!
- Too Many Men on Ice and Flyers head to another PP with 3:01 remaining
- PP1 generating great looks – Atkinson hits post
- Keith Yandle awful drop pass on odd man rush. As I alluded to earlier with NAK maybe not executing a 3-on-1 perfectly, it’s better than no chance at all… especially during a close game
- Offsides called as Brassard enters the zone — so much ice ahead of him
- Ristolainen causing havoc on second chance opportunity by the side of the net
- Can the Flyers carry the late momentum into the third?
Third Period – The classic: Win a period, Win a game
- 4th line continues to create separation and scoring chances.
- Lindblom inching his way closer to scoring, but misses another
- FLYERS GOAL (1-0): Travis Konecny skates down the wall and throws a little marinara to Sean Couturier! G picks up an assists as well
- Ghost heads to the box for hooking. Flyers can grab separation here
- Ristolainen tries a nifty backhand from the slot
- Lindblom stopped AGAIN on the doorstep! Can’t buy one tonight. That line is really creating a positive identity
- Carter Hart poised during second chance shots to his right side
- FLYERS GOAL (2-0): Flyers catch Vejmelka heading to the bench for an extra attacker. Laughton left alone and buries it. JVR and Braun record the assists
- FLYERS EMPTY NET GOAL (3-0): Couturier unselfish pass to G. Love that
- Carter Hart records the shutout!
- No bitching and complaining about penalties after this one