In a back and fourth affair, the Flyers fall to the Florida Panthers for the second time this season. Let’s wrap on all the sights and sounds of the game tonight:
Power Outage
The Flyers typically impressive penalty kill struggled mightily Thursday, as Florida went a gaudy 4-for-5 on the powerplay in the win. Philadelphia sports a 83.9% penalty kill percentage on home ice this season, good for 9th best in the league. Tonight, however, was a letdown for the unit, but credit the Panthers top guns. Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe all registered multi-point nights in this one. Even so, the club felt their were things to build on after scoring five goals against the defending cup champions.
“I think we were generating chances,” Nick Seeler said. “Structurally, after the first, we started playing in their face. We had a good third man high and it created offense for us. A lot of positives coming out of the night.”
Philly is now 4-3-1 against the Atlantic Division this season.
Owen’s Two
Owen Tippett scored twice 23 seconds apart in this game, which tied the ninth-fastest two goals by a player in Flyers history. The last player to tally two quicker goals was Claude Giroux in 22 seconds on April 25, 2021, according to NHL stats. The goals were Tippett’s 6th and 7th goals this season. Matvei picked up the primary assists on both goals.
“I think we’ve built some chemistry,” Tippett said of playing with Michkov. “I think lately it’s just been bounces, but it’s nice to get something.”
Tippett and Michkov have teamed up for three goals in the last two games. Their line with Morgan Frost appears to be playing better and that’s imperative this season if the Flyers are to have some success.
Time and Place
A pivotal moment in this game came late in the third period when the officials missed a check from behind by Sam Bennett on Travis Sanheim with 2:30 left in regulation. Farabee came to the aid of his teammate and cross-checked Bennett in retaliation before a scuffle ensued, which you can see above. Farabee then dropped the gloves with Gustav Forsling and was accessed a minor for roughing and a minor for the cross-check. The Panthers would score the game-winning goal shortly thereafter.
“We want to stick up for one another,” assistant coach Brad Shaw said. “I’m not going to get into penalty calls and what somebody should have done. To me, that’s the heat of the moment. He’s doing what he thinks is best for the team”
Here’s the thing; while it’s always admirable for teammates to stick up for one another, there is a time and place for everything. It’s up to Farabee to know and understand the game situation here. Had the Flyers been able to sidestep the Panthers powerplay, they likely would have left the rink Thursday night with at least a point.
Farabee, nor head coach John Tortorella were available to the media post-game.
They Said It
Owen Tippett on the resetting during the first intermission: “We didn’t get too down on ourselves, obviously to come back in the second period there and make a game going into the third. I think you can’t really get too down. There’s tons of hockey to play after the first period.”
Brad Shaw on pulling Ivan Fedotov for Alexei Kolosov after the first period: “It didn’t immediately help us, but it ended up being something that got us back in the game eventually.”
Nick Seeler on Joel Farabee sticking up for Sanheim: “I have no issues with what Beezer did. I think he’s a great teammate.”
Matvei Michkov on his chemistry with Owen Tippett: “Every game it’s getting better and we’ll continue to work on it.”
Did You Know?
Per NHL Stats, Matvei Michkov (24 GP) became the third-fastest teenager in Flyers history to reach the 20 point plateau behind Peter Zezel (15 GP) and Eric Lindros (16 GP). The Russian wunderkind also became the fourth teenager in Flyers history to record three assists in a game, once again joining Lindros (1992), Zezel (1985) and Glen Seabrooke (1987).
On Deck
The Flyers will head to beantown on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. puckdrop to take on the Boston Bruins. The game will be broadcast locally on NBCSP.
