The Flyers are streaking and frankly, it’s hard to believe. According to NHL stats, Philadelphia has posted a comeback win in three straight contests to start a campaign for the third time in franchise history following 1988-89 and 1982-83. Clearly, the team is off to a fantastic start and has fully bought into John Tortorella’s approach. Perhaps, more than anyone could have expected. Let’s wrap:
First Period
Minus: The Flyers were outshot 10-6 by Tampa Bay, while the Lightning largely dictated play and tempo in a scoreless first period from a territorial standpoint. Philadelphia appeared to be little memorized by Tampa’s skill at times, despite continuing to compete hard. Goaltender Carter Hart was the best player in orange and black throughout the period.
Plus: At the 10:56 mark of the opening stanza, Flyers’ enforcer Nic Deslauriers again used his truculence to try and rally his team with a spirited bout with Pat Maroon. Here’s the tilt:
Minus: Lightning star Brayden Point had several quality scoring opportunities in this frame, including taking an advantage of rookie defensemen Egor Zamula by splitting he and partner Nick Seeler for a breakaway. Carter Hart made the save with an outstretched pad, but Point lost an edge and crashed into the young netminder. Hart appeared shaken up on the play but remained in the game.
Second Period
Minus: Lightning captain Steven Stamkos scorched Philadelphia on the powerplay thanks to some undisciplined penalties by Travis Konecny and Zack MacEwen at the 1:25 and 4:12 mark of the middle frame. Stamkos ripped two, cross-ice one-timers past a sliding Hart to put the Flyers down in a hole for the third straight game. For the most part, the Flyers have done a nice job of playing with controlled physicality under John Tortorella to this point, but penalties like this won’t make the new bench boss happy.
Plus: At the 10:43, the Flyers once again got the ever-critical third goal of the game and from there, it helped shift the tide. Flyers forward Morgan Frost entered the offensive zone and made a pass across to fellow youngster Egor Zamula, who then fired what appeared to be a harmless shot on goal. At first glance, it appeared that Tampa goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had difficulty tracking the shot as it came to him and quickly swatted it away but when he did so, a wide-open Scott Laughton was there to bury the rebound. Zamula registered his first NHL point with on Laughton’s goal.
Third Period
Plus: James van Riemsdyk scores on the power play to make it 2-2 at the 1:06 mark of the third period on a tip-in from a Kevin Hayes shot. Van Riemsdyk set new a career-best, three-game season-opening point streak on the game-tying goal. Hayes, on the other hand, extended a point streak of his own with his four assist in three games. He currently leads the team in assists.
Plus: The game winning goal was a dogged effort from none other than Flyers’ rookie Noah Cates, who forces a Tampa turnover at the 12:44 mark of regulation, before claiming the disc and scoring on a turnaround shot from the center slot. It hasn’t seemed to matter whether the youngest Cates brother is on wing or playing center or what line he is on, the Stillwater, Minnesota native continues to find ways to be productive. The Flyers are reaping the benefits.
Plus: Carter Hart is on a career-high three-game season-opening win streak, stopping a combined 99-of-105 shots over that span. He was sensational once again tonight for the Flyers, while calmly stopping a few quality chances and helping slam the door shut in the final frame.
Quick Hits
- Goaltender Carter Hart is 15-1-2 in his career when making 37-plus saves in a game. He made 37 saves in this one.
- Head Coach John Tortorella became the second head coach to win each of his first three games behind the Flyers bench – only Paul Holmgren (4-0-0 in 1988-89) has done so to date. Tortorella, who has coached four other NHL clubs, has never won each of his first three games behind a team’s bench, according to NHL stats.
- Tony DeAngelo tallied the secondary assist on Van Riemsdyk’s goal to stretch his point streak to three games. He is currently tied for 1st on the team with three powerplay point.
- Noah Cates goal was his second career game-winning goal.
- Philadelphia snapped a 10-game winless streak against the Lightning tonight. The Flyers had been handily beaten by the reigning Eastern Conference champions, as their last victory against the Bolts came on January 25, 2018.
Scott Laughton on Justin Braun’s uncharacteristic fight against Corey Perry via the Inquier’s Gina Han
What’s Next
The Flyers will remain in Florida for the second game of a three-game road trip, as they meet with the Panthers tomorrow night on TNT, 7:30 puckdrop.
