Not gonna lie, I accidentally deleted the first 600-ish words of this recap. So here goes the final however many words this ends up being.
(It was 0-0 after 40 minutes, so like did you really miss anything?)
AFTER 40: Flyers 0, Penguins 0
Sensing the desperation of being eight points back of the final playoff spot, the Flyers came out in the third like they were shot out of a cannon. Problem was that Matt Murray was there for a couple good chances as the Flyers tried to break a scoreless tie.
Those missed chances would hurt at the other end, with Pittsburgh taking the first goal of the game not long after.
Teddy Blueger would break the scoreless tie with his fourth of the season not even three minutes into the third to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. After early Flyers pressure, the Penguins responded with a goal that Carter Hart would love to have back given the massive rebound he left out for Blueger.
Making matters worse, Radko Gudas would take a penalty for cross-checking following the goal. Thankfully Gudas’ penalty wouldn’t prove to be costly as the Penguins would pick up one of their own thanks to Phil Kessel. That guy likes hot dogs and that’s pretty cool.
With 13 minutes left the Flyers nearly had an equalizer, but Nolan Patrick’s rising shot found iron. Then Matt Murray decided he doesn’t actively suck at goalie and robbed Phil Varone point-blank to preserve the Penguins’ lead. It was at this point that Penguins fans decided to remind the Flyers that they haven’t won the Stanley Cup in like 500 years (They haven’t).
Still desperate for a tying goal, Murray sprawled out to deny the Flyers once again. Like again, he’s only good against one damn team and it’s the Flyers.
A too many men penalty would derail the Flyers’ efforts with eight minutes left, their second of the game in a must-win with their playoff hopes deteriorating. That’s not ideal, folks. Good news is that the Penguins also wanted a lot of man out there and gave the Flyers a power play with a little over five minutes left.
Season on the line and the Flyers’ arguably most singularly frustrating unit on the ice? What could possible go wrong? You already know how this ends, but the Flyers power play did not score…because of course they didn’t though Sean Couturier had a golden chance that Murray was forced to make a miraculous save on.
With 1:29 left Scott Gordon would send Carter Hart to the bench in search of a tying goal to revive the Flyers’ near lifeless playoff hopes.
AND WITH 18 SECONDS LEFT BAH GAWD THAT’S JVR’S MUSIC.
JVR TIES THE GAME IN THE DYING SECONDS. pic.twitter.com/7pfW1U4CkB
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) March 18, 2019
Beautiful feed from Travis Konecny, and James van Riemsdyk buries a quick snap shot past Murray to make it 1-1 and secure a badly needed point on the road in Pittsburgh.
AFTER 60: Flyers 1, Penguins 1
So the Penguins really though they were winning this thing during the old 3-on-3, but Carter Hart had other ideas. Dude was just out there living his best life denying Sidney Crosby in the biggest game of the Flyers’ season. No big deal, to him.
When the shootout looked all be inevitable, Sean Couturier decided that wouldn’t be necessary.
With just three seconds left Couturier would rip a wrist shot past Murray to give the Flyers a 2-1 win and keep their slim playoff hopes on life support for the time being. Couturier chipped the puck past Crosby at the Penguins blue line then made no mistake to beat Murray to the blocker side.
Coots called game. #PHIvsPIT | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/i6Q4Hb22Dm
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 18, 2019
FINAL: Flyers 2, Penguins 1
