Reinhart nets 50th goal as Flyers fall 4-1 to Panthers

The Flyers faced the Panthers for the 3rd and final time this year. The first 2 matches were 2-1 Flyers victories, but they would not have the same fortunes this go around.

The loss allows the Capitals to climb within just 2 points of 3rd place in the Metro with the 2 set to go at it on the last night of the regular season on the 16th.

Let’s get into the game.

The Flyers ever terrible powerplay took center stage in the first 20 minutes with the team failing not once, not twice, but three times in one period alone. Sam Reinhart got past Felix Sandstrom in what has been a familiar sight ever since Felix Sandstrom has been getting starts between the iron. The Panthers would go into the intermission with a 1-0 lead, but not before a fight broke out as time expired which would send Matthew Tkachuk, Bobby Brink, and Cam York to the penalty box to start the second period.

The Panthers started the period with a man advantage and wasted no time when Vladimir Tarasenko scored just 55 seconds after the period began. Panthers backup goalie Anthony Stolarz had the Flyers number all game and continued to torment the team once again shutting them out through 40 minutes. The Flyers had plenty of chances, but Stolarz was having none of it.

The Flyers went into the final 20 minutes needing 2 goals to attempt to at least stretch the game into OT and salvage a point. Carter Verhage seemingly put the game out of reach with a goal 4:43 into the final period. The Flyers did find one positive in this period by doing something that has been impossible all season for them. They scored on the power play! Bobby Brink found his 9th goal of the season with a man advantage. Needing 3 goals, Sandstrom was pulled and ultimately Sam Reinhart took an easy empty net goal to bury the hatchet 4-1.

Nights like this serve as a reminder that this team has played well above their expectations. There are parts of this team still very flawed such as the powerplay as a glaring example. Felix Sandstrom allowing 3 goals on 14 shots isn’t sustainable for the backup goalie position. This whole team has been looked at all year and said “There not sustainable” but yet here we are. You’ll always have growing pains with a surprise team like this and tonight was proof. Don’t sweat it, other than the Rangers twice the last 10 games of the season for the Flyers are all winnable games. Let’s see how far this underdog team can go.

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