Your Flyers pre-game checklist:
- One day removed from a dominating win vs. the Penguins
- Playing the Devils in the second game of a back-to-back
- Facing the backup goalie
- Devils are reeling from a 10-game losing streak
- Media’s focus on Mason having never defeated the Devils in his career and starting back-to-back games/
You have the script, you’ve likely determined the ending. Flyers come out flat to begin the game, a far cry from a invigorating effort the night before. They register their second shot nearly 5 minutes into the game having already staved off a Miles Wood shot that was saved by the post. After killing off a Gudas cross-checking minor, the Flyers set up a beautiful tic-tac-toe play for Michael Del Zotto to deposit his 5th goal of the season:
Tic. Tac. Toe. Giroux to Voracek to Del Zotto! 1-0 Flyers! pic.twitter.com/1NopwwJmwS
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) March 16, 2017
In true 2016-17 season fashion, the joy ends with Valterri Filppula losing a defensive zone faceoff and Kyle Palmieri tying the game just 1 minute and 11 seconds later. This of course doesn’t jump start the Flyers; instead, they continue to sit back and allow dangerous chances. One of those chances nearly made the game 2-1 after a bad Andrew MacDonald turnover set up Adam Henrique down low to close out the 1st Period.
Did things get better the rest of the way? Nope! Highlights from the 2nd and rest of the way:
- Travis Konecny takes a tripping penalty 2 minutes into the second period
- A rare turnover by Ivan Provorov results in Henrique’s 1st goal of the game
- Filppula took a heavy hit and missed a few shifts in the 2nd
- Brayden Schenn scores his 21st goal (at even strength so it counts!) to bring deficit to a goal
- Taylor Hall breaks his stick on a one-timer on an open net, goes to retrieve a new stick, goes on on a breakaway and Forsbergs Steve Mason to put the Devils up 4-2:/
Hall scores and Mason is down and hurt. pic.twitter.com/b2Upj0ynYn
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) March 17, 2017
This resulted in Mason being guided off the ice, not because Hextall has seen enough, but rather an undisclosed injury. He didn’t return to the game and was diagnosed with cramping following the game. Please leave tasteful comments. Thanks. Your “fancy stats” for the game look of something out of a horror movie:
The Flyers struggled the rest of the way, getting beat 6-2 by a red and green clad AHL team who hasn’t won a game in weeks. We can stop with the playoff percentage chance and points updates. It’s done. Let it go. We can now start focusing on important things like the Phillies getting Mike Trout in 4 years.
And now the song is over now
And now the song is over now
And now the song is over now
The song is over now
