Better late than never, right? The Flyers come alive in the third period before Owen Tippett wins it in overtime. Let’s wrap on all the sights and wildness of this metropolitan division contest:
Pre-Game: Emil Andrae Sent to Phantoms
In a surprising move, the Flyers announced Saturday that the club has sent defensemen Emil Andrae to the Leigh Valley Phantoms. Andrae, 22, has appeared in 20 games this season for Philadelphia, posting one goal and four assists. The young swede showcased plus puck-moving ability and the vision to quarterback a powerplay in his time in the NHL thus far. However, that wasn’t enough in the coaches eyes to keep him up with the big club.
“It’s gotten too rich for him,” John Tortorella told the media. “It’s an easy part of the process. He gets a little bit up here, plays really well, starts falling off. We are not going to keep a kid in a spot where we’re hurting him with some struggles.”
Both by the numbers and eye test, Andrae has been a net positive for the Flyers this season. Have there been some struggles, as the coach alluded to, with Andrae? Of course, player development isn’t always a steady upward trajectory and young players will make mistakes. However, that also should be factored into the process too. Allowing a player enough rope to work through said struggles at this level should also be something that the club allows as well. Especially in a rebuilding process like the Flyers are currently in.
In lieu of Andrae’s demotion, the Flyers also recalled forward Olle Lycksell. Lycksell was recalled due to Sean Couturier missing the game due to personal reasons.
Storming Back
Just when it felt the Flyers had no life through 40 minutes of play, the orange and black rallied for four goals in the final frame. Morgan Frost (2X), Noah Cates, and Tyson Foerster all scored in the period, counter-punching well each time Columbus jumped back ahead, much like two fighters exchanging blows in the middle of the ring. This game was far from a perfect one for Philadelphia and defensively, they’ll be studying plenty of tape to clean some of that up. Nevertheless, the Flyers showed plenty of moxie to get back in, and eventually, win this game.
“We didn’t want to let this one go,” Frost said. “Some of the minutes were good, some of the minutes were bad. We just had to find a way to put the puck in the back of the net.”
So that’s exactly what Owen Tippett did in overtime. However, it wasn’t all about the game winning goal for Tippett, but rather his vision and passing ability as well. The 25-year-old winger picked up assists on both of Frost’s goals, and is credited with the tertiary assist on Foerster’s goal too. Tippett now has six goals and four assists for 10 points in his last nine games against Columbus.
“He was a monster in the third period and obviously on the overtime goal,” Frost said of his teammate.
This is Tippett’s first four point game of his career.
Misplayed
The Flyers weren’t the sharpest with the puck for a majority of the game and payed for it Saturday, at least in the first and second periods. On Columbus’s first goal, a bad turnover by Jamie Drysdale led to the Flyers scrambling in their own zone. On the second, goalie Sam Ersson coughed up a puck behind his own net for an empty net goal for the Jackets. It wasn’t exactly a banner night defensively for Philadelphia.
“They bailed me out so I think I owe them a couple,” Ersson said. “It’s all about finding ways to win. That’s how I have to see this one.”
Ersson didn’t play his best game, but the team in front of him also were struggling as well. The Flyers were charged with eight giveaways in this game to the Blue Jackets’ 11, but Philly likely turned the puck over more than that. It’s admirable that Ersson feels that you could’ve done more for his teammates, but they were plenty of moments were the structure in front of him was lacking too.
They Said It
Tyson Foerster on Playing with Noah Cates: “He’s great to play with. He battles down low, I feel like he never loses a puck and he always takes it to the net so that’s where I go.”
John Tortorella on the Flyers’ goaltending of late: “I’m not going to lay all the blame on the goalies for a little bit of our funk here, but they’re part of it. We need more saves at key times.”
Owen Tippett on having his legs: “Right from the start, as soon as you feel your legs, it drives the rest of it. Felt good coming into tonight.”
Cam York on his game: “Still not exactly where I want to be, but tonight was a step in the right direction. I just want to put in the work to get back to my normal self.”
Did You Know?
Per NHL stats, the Flyers scored multiple game-tying goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation for the fourth time in franchise history Saturday night. The last times this happened? March 26, 2024, October 18, 2014 and March 30, 1991.
On Deck
The Flyers will head to Pittsburgh Monday night to take of their cross-state rival Penguins before heading into the holiday break. Puckdrop is set for 7:00 pm and the game will be broadcast locally on NBCSP+.
