1st Period
For a game featuring one of the most exciting teams in the NHL, this one started about as slow as possible. The Flyers would then go to the power play as … Andrei Vasilevskiy trips up Taylor Leier? Well that’s an interesting way to get the game’s first power play and NOLAN PATRICK SCORES.
Nolan Patrick scores! pic.twitter.com/69ALZqIDPF
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) March 3, 2018
Tampa then would go on to score the game-tying goal. I did not see it, because NBC Sports Philadelphia was having some technical difficulties during the first period of this game.
The game remained fairly slow paced with minimal scoring chances until just over five minutes remaining in the period, when the second line did what they’re best at: win board battles. This led to a goal by Jakub Voracek. Patrick forced the turnover, then Voracek’s first shot was stopped but he followed his own rebound and put the Flyers back in front.
Nolan Patrick blocks the exit pass and Jake Voracek scores! pic.twitter.com/dOLa8lqfmA
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) March 3, 2018
Then Mikhail Sergachev went to the box for hooking Michael Raffl, sending the Flyers right back to the power play. While the Flyers had some strong chances on the power play, they were unable to convert. Shortly after however, Robert Hagg joined the rush and … HE DID IT AGAIN??? Hagg snipes one on one of the best goalies in the entire league to put the Flyers up 3-1 late in the first period, against the top team in the Eastern Conference. Flyers/Lightning games always seem to entertain, don’t they?
Robert Hagg! What a shot! pic.twitter.com/IwTbIJHG4E
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) March 3, 2018
The Flyers would head into the second up 3-1, a very solid start for a team that needed a rebound after a disappointing loss to Carolina.
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2nd Period
The Flyers would start the period right where they left off, drawing a Tampa Bay penalty and beginning the period on the man advantage. Despite a broken stick on Tampa early in the power play, the Flyers were unable to do anything with it and the score remained 3-1.
After a few missed clearing attempts, the Lightning were able to pick up a fluke goal from Victor Hedman. Hedman skated in deep and banked in a sharp angle shot off of Valtteri Filppula that eluded Petr Mrazek, 3-2 Flyers. This game is just full of nonsense.
Tampa Bay would start controlling the game as the period went on, generating some close calls for the Flyers. The sloppiness that had plagued them in the game vs. Carolina was coming back to haunt them vs. Tampa. This all culminated in … DAN GIRARDI SCORED A GOAL? I give up, let’s go home.
So things are looking pretty bad for the orange and black and then OH MY GOD YOU ARE KIDDING ME, HE SCORED??? Jori (Jorald) Lehtera somehow beats Vasilevskiy and the Flyers lead 4-3. I … I don’t know what’s going on anymore.
Jori Lehtera just scored on Andrei Vasilevskiy. Yup. pic.twitter.com/sZGT5gFiOQ
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) March 3, 2018
After a wild second period the Flyers somehow lead this one 4-3 with 20 minutes remaining. Time for third period shenanigans.
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3rd Period
Just 1:06 into the final period Ivan Provorov fired a point shot that somehow found its way by Vasilevskiy. Andrei got a piece of it but Provy was able to muscle it by him, and just like that the Flyers have their two goal lead right back.
Fittingly enough, a pinch by Hagg lead to a 2-on-2 rush for Tampa and Mrazek was unable to control the rebound off the first shot, and J.T Miller one of the newest members of the Lightning buried it. Then the Flyers got a power play for … well, I’m not really sure what Anthony Cirelli did, but it’s a penalty apparently!
The Flyers would do nothing with it and shortly after they were able to get a 2-on-1 with Raffl and Hagg, nothing was able to materialize from this, and then for some reason no forward decided they would get back to help MacDonald as the puck went the other way. Mac was faced with a Kucherov/Stamkos 2-on-1 and well I’m sure you guessed the result of that one by now.
Just when you start to maybe feel bad for MacDonald he fails to clear the puck, turns it over to Tampa, and Hedman blasts away from the point and puts the Lightning up 6-5 for their first lead of the hockey game. While this is certainly not all his fault, it would be nice to get the occasional save from Petr Mrazek.
Lost in the midst of the craziness that is this hockey game, Oskar Lindblom made a fantastic pass to Nolan Patrick and of course, OF COURSE, Vasilevskiy finally decided to play like a Vezina candidate on this play.
Vasilevskiy ROBS Nolan Patrick. pic.twitter.com/3NfFyWPWFV
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) March 3, 2018
The Lightning would continue to pile on the chances taking advantage of the Flyers bottom lines, but with three minutes remaining some great work by Provorov poking the puck free setup Claude Giroux at the side of the net. The captain would make no mistake and tied the game at 6-6. If there was ever such thing as a “captain-like goal” that was the definition of it.
After a few chances apiece, this game would head to overtime ensuring the Flyers a much needed point. After the clunker we saw on Thursday night, at the very least this game has been entertaining to watch!
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Overtime
Alright so this is the absolute dumbest game from Vasilevskiy. He’s looked so shaky in this game but then makes two dynamite saves on one-time chances from the Flyers … and as I’m typing this he makes his third on Shayne Gostisbehere, my god.
The Flyers would catch a huge break and get a power play but oh man did they do absolutely nothing with it. Barely any shots on goal and just an overall sloppy effort. I usually hate the whole “just shoot it” mentality, but in some cases (this was one of them) wouldn’t have minded it!
Petr Mrazek would make some key saves and of course this game would go to a shootout.
Shootout
Cory Conacher … NOPE
Sean Couturier … no
Brayden Point … oh Petr honey what are you doing
Nolan Patrick … of course not
Steven Stamkos … kill me
Flyers lose 7-6 in a shootout, this is your daily reminder that shootouts are awful and we should just go back to ties. Thank you for your time.
