Caleb Weiler
After a 10-game winning streak in December, the Philadelphia Flyers tried to break another streak on Saturday afternoon. After losing five games in a row, the Tampa Bay Lightning came to town to try and make that streak for the Flyers six. Both teams are coming off embarrassing losses – the Flyers 5-2 against the Rangers, and the Lightning 6-1 against the Nashville Predators.
The new-look Flyers, complete with Michal Neuvirth in net and Wayne Simmonds demoted to the third line, looked to shake things up.
The first time the Flyers played the Lightning at home this year (November 19), Andrei Vasilevsky shut the door on all 32 Flyers’ shots. When they played the Lightning again four days later, they lost 4-2 due to two quick third period goals by the Lightning after the Flyers had a superb first two periods. The Flyers are looked to avoid a repeat of that outing.
The Lightning were three points behind the Flyers for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, so this was an integral game for both teams to continue jockeying for playoff positioning. Even if it is only January.
They say that the two-goal lead is one of the worst leads to have in hockey, but luckily that did not prove to be true for the Flyers Saturday as they broke their five-game slump with a big 4-2 win over the Tampa bay lightning. Thanks to a four-goal outburst in the second period, the Flyers were able to buck the losing trend and get back on track. Hopefully.
While the Flyers had most of the puck possession within the first five minutes of the game, the Lightning struck on a quick two-on-one 5:34 into the contest as Nikita Kucherov scored his 19th goal of the season. The Flyers received their first power play opportunity of the game, thanks to Vladislav Namestikov, 10:54 into the first period but failed to capitalize on a few good chances.
At the end of the first period, the Flyers led in shots 14-7 but were down, 1-0. Despite dominating the first period, spending a majority of the period in the Tampa zone, and winning 62% of their faceoffs, Tampa Bay had the lead.
After a rough first period, the Flyers capitalized four times in the second period with goals scored by Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier, Michael Raffl and Radko Gudas on 16 shots in the frame. In the first, they had chances, but nothing was bouncing their way. The second stanza proved to be the exact opposite.
Travis Konecny ties it up! pic.twitter.com/7XjfVXJuot
— Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) January 7, 2017
While the Flyers, who have scored 49 goals in the second period coming into Saturday, routed the Lightning for four, Tampa retaliated with a goal of their own, scored on the power play by Alex Killorn.
After letting a goal in on his second shot on goal, Neuvirth has settled into the cage, posting a .875 save percentage going into the third period.
Two big saves by Neuvirth, but the Lighting are going on the PP. #Flyers #FlyersTalk pic.twitter.com/XbxuNsHzQW
— Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) January 7, 2017
Vasilevsky posted a .750 save percentage in the second frame, allowing the Flyers to take a commanding 4-2 lead into the third period.
The third period did not yield any goals, but there were penalties on both sides of the ice and a scare when the Lightning’s J.T. Brown went down in a heap. Brown was able to skate off the ice under his own will to an applause at the Wells Fargo Center.
Clearly not on purpose. #Flyers #FlyersTalk pic.twitter.com/Xb05L6GGv5
— Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) January 7, 2017
In his return, Neuvirth was able to post a .923 save percentage, and, more importantly, help snap the Flyers’ skid. This was the final meeting of the regular season between the teams, with Tampa Bay winning the season series 1-2, but the Flyers were able to distance themselves from them in the playoff hunt.
RADKO! 4-2! #Flyers #FlyersTalk pic.twitter.com/KC1j5mx06d
— Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) January 7, 2017
P.S.: The Orange Mites on Ice team won 2-0 with two fantastic goals from number 10. Good job, kid.