FEBRUARY 28 FLYERS 5 /RANGERS 2
The Flyers came in to Friday night’s opener of a home-and-home match-up against the New York Rangers with a crucial two-points on the line. With the Rangers being on a nine game win streak on the road, it was set to be an entertaining game.
The first half of the 1st period started in favor of the Rangers with Jesper Fast scoring on a wrist shot under minutes into the game with the assist going to Artemi Panarin. The goal came after some decent pressure from both teams, but the Rangers had an early lead.
As the period progressed, the Flyers picked up the pace and found a more competitive edge. About five minutes into the period, Sean Couturier got pushed which started a scrum, but it was quickly separated and no penalties were called.
The Flyers second line of Scott Laughton, Kevin Hayes and Travis Konency, started to buzz and generated some shots on goal and creating decent pressure, but couldn’t seem to finish.
With under 5 minutes left in the 1st Sean Couturier scored his 20th goal of the season with assists from Jakub Voracek and Ivan Provorov to tie the game at one. As the period ended, there was some more rough stuff, but it was quickly broken up and the period ended 1-1.
Philadelphia started off the second period much stronger, getting a couple of good shots off and applying good pressure in front of the New York goal. The Rangers tried to push back, but Carter Hart shut it down with an impossible save.
About midway through the period, there was a stoppage of play as Phillippe Myers was called for interference, putting the orange and black on the kill. The Rangers pushed on the power play, but they couldn’t find the back of the net as the Flyers had another successful kill, killing 16 of their last 18.
The Flyers dominated the period with some 2-on-1 breaks and followed through as they went on a power play after Adam Fox went into the sin bin for holding Voracek. The Orange and black immediately tried to take advantage but were unsuccessful. The Rangers quickly took another penalty for high sticking, however, Provorov took a coinciding penalty for interference and the game stayed 5-on-4.
James van Reimsdyk scored on a snapshot shortly after the PP expired to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead with the assists from Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Scott Laughton.
Off the rush Claude Giroux rung a shot off the post but the Flyers retained possession and quickly, on a great pass, from Couturier and Voracek, G made it 3-1 Philadelphia.
The Flyers had a strong finish to the frame even with 4 seconds of a New York Power Play rolling over to the 3rd, with a great short handed attempt on a goal by the second line just before the buzzer.
Third period action kicked off for the Flyers with a power play from Giroux, his second goal of the game and 19th on the year. The Flyers dominated the period; a battle that resulted in 2 more early Power Play’s for Philadelphia.
Kevin Hayes collected his 22nd goal of the year and first of the game with a snap shot at 12:56 of the 3rd period, with another from assist Voracek, his 4th of the game, and Laughton, his 2nd.
Laughton got Jumped late in the game, but still was called for roughing along with Ryan Lindgren before he left the ice frustrated with 1:15 left in the Game. Hart made two more great saves before Brett Howden scored and made the score 5-2, but that’s where it would stand as time ran out and the Flyers Captured the victory in the opener of this weekends Home and Home before heading to MSG for a Matinee game on Sunday at 12pm
CLEANING THE CAGE
Player of the Game: Giroux scored his 19th goal of the season
Sean Couturier with his 20th goal of the season.
Carter Hart made 38 of 40 saves in goal, securing the win for the Flyers.
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