The Flyers gave up two shorthanded goals in the span of 24 seconds in this game, and still managed to get the win in overtime, getting there via a Dale Weise breakaway goal. I say this affectionately, Flyers, but this team is so dumb.
Stats and graphics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick
1st Period
Alright folks let’s dive into this re-HOLY CRAP THEY SCORED A GOAL ALREADY. The top line which has struggled for much of the early going this season, converted on a beautiful passing play to give the Flyers the game’s first goal yet again in this hot streak. After Sean Couturier helped force a turnover, he found Travis Konecny on the right wing who dropped it back to Claude Giroux, who then fed a darting Konecny for the partial breakaway, and the beauty backhand goal. For a team looking to keep the good times rolling, that start is as good as it gets.
Konecny strikes first. pic.twitter.com/I9NHf4eZHk
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) November 9, 2018
Then again, a power play right after a goal less than two minutes in is pretty darn good. What wasn’t good however, was the power play itself. The Flyers were unable to generate much offense, and the Coyotes penalty kill do what they do best.
Hold up wait a minute, you thought they were finished? Scott Laughton, after fanning on the first attempt, deposited a spinning backhander by Darcy Kuemper who was having quite the period of hockey. The Flyers aggressiveness remained after the first goal and that is the key here. They kept their foot on the gas and would you look at that, good things happened! What a novel concept!
Laughton makes it 2-0. pic.twitter.com/ecRsSmElVu
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) November 9, 2018
Then Christian Folin rage-quit a game of NHL 19 and it resulted in a delay of game penalty, which is exactly what one would expect him to do if we’re being honest. Speaking of things that we expect to happen, the Flyers allowed a power play goal, giving the Coyotes four straight games with a power play goal, and nine straight games the Flyers have given one up. Oliver Ekman-Larsson let a point shot go, the Coyotes had plenty of traffic in front of Calvin Pickard and the puck found its way into the back of the net. 2-1 Flyers.
The two teams would trade some low-danger chances over the course of the next few minutes, then the Flyers would head to a late power play. Despite some great keeps at the blueline, and some high quality chances, Kuemper kept the Coyotes down by just a goal. An intense battle for the puck along the boards would ensue shortly after the power play ended and … wait they gave Simmonds a penalty? Somehow, out of the plentiful amounts of slashes and crosschecks, only Simmonds received a penalty, sending Arizona to their second man advantage of the night. This was just horrific officiating, and there was no reason for just one player to head to the box out of that scrum. Regardless, the Coyotes were unable to capitalize before the period came to an end, leaving them a short power play to start the second period.
Gameflow/heatmap after 1st Period
2nd Period
Oh OK, I see you Arizona, that’s real cute how you just copied us.
As the Flyers were caught in a line change, Radko Gudas played the bouncy puck about as poorly as one can, then didn’t mark Brad Richardson closely enough, and Richardson beat Pickard. That’s a save that Pickard is probably going to say he should have had — and he’s not wrong — but that was also some poor defense. Definitely not how the Flyers wanted to open the period, as they attempted to take control of the game in the second period.
Then all hell broke loose.
The Flyers would get a power play after a trip by Vinnie Hinostroza on Jordan Weal, and that was a good thing. Power plays are generally good for the team that gets them in the sport of hockey. That is, unless the team is the 2018-19 Philadelphia Flyers and the opposing team is the 2018-19 Arizona Coyotes. Shayne Gostisbehere failed to keep a puck in, got caught up with the linesman, and Derek Stepan proceeded to beat Pickard and give Arizona the lead. Just 24 seconds later, Michael Grabner got behind the Flyers defense and well, I’m sure you can guess what happened next. Grabner scores, two shorthanded goals on the same power play, just 24 seconds apart, and the Coyotes all of a sudden have a two goal lead. Joy to the world, happy festivus, fire the coach.
The remainder of the period was primarily the Flyers attempting to generate consistent offensive pressure, and not exactly doing that. Despite trailing the majority of the period, which should mean the Flyers have extended offensive zone time due to the fact they’re trying to tie the game up, they had a 44.74 score and venue adjusted corsi-for in the period. That just sounds fantastic if you ask me. The Flyers would receive a late power play, and thankfully Arizona didn’t score another shorthanded goal in those twenty some seconds. Heading into the third, the Flyers trailed Arizona by the same two goal margin, but would have a power play to start the period.
Gameflow/heatmap after 2nd period
3rd Period
The Flyers started the final frame by putting a familiar group back together. The old first power play unit of Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek, and finally Shayne Gostisbehere were reunited and well it didn’t feel so good. The Flyers failed to score on the man advantage but soon thereafter, Scott Laughton tallied his second goal of the night after mayhem ensued in front of the Coyotes net, bringing the Flyers to within a goal early in the third.
Laughton scores on the scramble in front. pic.twitter.com/jUm98RS17A
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) November 9, 2018
Travis Konecny would come oh so close to tying the game on a rebound sitting in the blue paint, but was denied. This would be the best chance for the Flyers in the minutes directly after the Laughton goal. It appeared as though the Flyers should have received a power play off a hit by Ekman-Larsson on Oskar Lindblom, which seemed a lot like interference by the Coyotes defenseman. Konecny would generate another high-quality chance, almost converting on a one timer from just inside the face-off circle, but was denied yet again by Kuemper.
The Flyers would be relentless on the attack over the next few minutes, spending much of their time in the offensive zone. The peak of this offensive zone time was a beautiful passing play by the second line, specifically Lindblom and Nolan Patrick who almost converted on a tip play off the great pass by Lindblom. It looked like the Flyers were destined to come oh so close, but come up just short.
Then, a savior appeared, the light out of the darkness, his name was Dale. Dale Weise. The rumbling, bumbling, and stumbling Dale beat the Coyotes best defenseman in Ekman-Larsson and buried a breakaway goal to tie the game. Just as we drew it up, folks.
DALE WEISE BREAKAWAY GOAL.
NO, REALLY. pic.twitter.com/U8inhIGg4G
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) November 9, 2018
Sean Couturier almost had time to deposit a rebound by Kuemper at the end of the period, but the horn sounded and this game would go to overtime, somehow this game goes to overtime. This team never stops finding ways to surprise you, do they?
Final heatmap/gameflow
Overtime
After a great play by Voracek to outwork the Coyotes attackers, he found Gostisbehere for a one timer that beat Kuemper and miraculously, the Flyers win the hockey game 5-4 in OT. Again with this team and the surprises. They improve to 8-7-1 on the season, and have nine points in their last five games after looking dead in the water heading into the third period tonight. What a rollercoaster.
