Flyers disappoint returning fans in 3-1 loss to Capitals
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
The Philadelphia Flyers had fans return to the Wells Fargo Center for the first time in 361 days, and they left disappointed.
The Flyers fell to the Washing Capitals 3-1.
Recap:
Period 1
The Capitals would win the opening face off. For the first time in 361 days, the Flyers have played a game in front of fans in Philadelphia.
Five minutes in and the game was, well, quite a sleeper as the teams had a combined three shots-on-goal. But on a good note, the Flyers were looking good on the forecheck.
A few minutes after the midpoint of the period, Sean Couturier shot a pass down the ice to Joel Farabee. Farabee was on a two-on-one with James van Rymsdyk. Farabee would take it all the way with a five-hole wrist shot that went into the net. The fans got on their feet and roured for the 21 year-old, who’s scored his 11th goal of the season. Farabee is now tied for the league lead in even strength goals with 11.
A few moments after the goal, Conor Sheary would get called for hooking. Flyers would head to the power play. Caps killed the power play. And yes, you could hear the fans shouting “shoot” nice and clear.
Travis Konekny would get a shot that was saved by Caps goalie Ilya Samsonov. TK would then get in a scuffle in front of the goal. Obviously, TK would get shoved into the goalie. And apparently, this was goaltender interference, even though the whistle was blown before he touched him and he was shoved into him. The Caps would go on the power play as the fans started to shout “refs you suck” at the the referees. The Flyers, thankfully, dodged the bullet and killed the power play,
Period stats:
Flyers: 14 shots-on-goal, 5 hits, 11 faceoffs won, 2 penalty minutes.
Capitals: 7 shots-on-goal, 7 hits, 7 faceoffs won, 2 penalty minutes.
After 20 minutes, the Flyers lead 1-0.
Period 2
Caps won the opening faceoff, and the second-period was underway.
Zdeno Chára would get caught tripping Jakub Voracek. It would be a quick power play, but not how you thunk. JVR would get called for tripping, as well. There would then be 1:55 of four-on-four. With :31 left in the four-on-four, John Carlson would head to the sin bin for delay of game as he hit the puck over the Flyers’ bench and into the stands. All penalties would be killed.
There was a great moment at the Wells Fargo Center during a commercial break as Oskar Lindblom got a standing ovation from the fans in attendance. Lindblom was was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a tumor that grows in the bones or in the tissue around bones, in December 2019. He beat it during quarantine. This is his first game back with fans in the stands, and he got what he deserves.
Chára passed the puck over to T. J. Oshie. Oshie shot a pass across the ice to Alexander Ovechkin, who shot it past Carter Hart and into the net to tie the game up at one.
With :15 left in the period, the Caps won the draw. Jakub Vrána would have the puck, he would pass it to Carlson, who shot a pass to Dmitry Orlov, who one-timed the puck past HArt in into the net to give the Caps the lead.
Period stats:
Flyers: 8 shots-on-goal, 2 hits, 9 faceoffs won, 2 penalty minutes.
Capitals: 13 shots-on-goal, 10 hits, 10 faceoffs won, 4 penalty minutes.
It was all Caps in the second as they took a 2-1 lead in the second period.
Period 3
Flyers won the opening faceoff to get the final period underway.
Nicklas Bäckström would shoot a pass to Nick Jensen. Jensen shot a hard wrist shot at the top of the net, and into the net.
The Flyers would go on the power play as Nic Dowd would head off for tripping. Caps would kill it, as boos would rain down on the Flyers from the fans.
Flyers pulled the goalie for and extra attacker with 4:10 left. The Flyers did a very good job defending their goal as the Caps had many chances, and the Flyers were just shutting them down, along with many missed shots by the Caps.
Game stats:
Flyers: 37 shots-on-goal, 14 hits, 29 faceoffs won, 4 penalty minutes.
Capitals: 27 shots-on-goal, 24 hits, 23 faceoffs won, 8 penalty minutes.
3 stars:
- Dmitry Orlov (1 goal)
- Joel Farabee (1 goal)
- T.J. Oshie (2 assists)
The 12-6-3 Flyers will stay at home and play the 6-14-3 Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
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