I posted updates on the injury to Oskars Bartulis before I finalized the story for tonight’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Phoenix Coyotes as I felt it warranted its own discussion. That said, tonight was another game where the Flyers didn’t put in a full sixty minute effort, but I imagine it has more to do with tired defensemen than anything else.
There wasn’t much to complain about in the first half of the game. Ville Leino re-directed a shot by Matt Carle from the blue-line to give the team an early lead in the first period. Not many shots were thrown by either team in the first, but the Flyers did a good job of maintaining puck possession in the Coyotes’ end, even if they got too cute with it at times.
The downward spiral arguably began at the 15:57 mark of the second period, when Andrej Meszaros was called for a roughing penalty. Meszaros would later be called for boarding after a bad hit to Mikkel Boedker. The closely timed penalties broke up the Flyers’ momentum and gave the Coyotes the edge at the beginning of the third period.
Early in the third, defenseman Kimmo Timonen lost his edge while skating back into the Flyers’ zone. Meszaros moved to the front of the net, but paid no attention to centerman Eric Belanger racing into the crease. Belanger hit the wide open net, tying the game.
Tyler Pyatt grabbed the lead halfway through the period with a shot that bounced awkwardly off of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky’s pads and over his shoulder.
The Flyers struggled for the remainder of the period, failing to convert on two powerplay opportunities. Finally, with 1:13 left in the game, Claude Giroux raised the energy level of the Wells Fargo Center through the roof with a tying goal that would lead the team to overtime.
Once again, it was Timonen and Meszaros who faltered in overtime. Timonen was called with a questionable hooking penalty that gave the ‘Yotes a 4-3 man advantage. Seconds later, Meszaros dropped his stick and basically made it a 4-2 advantage. Bobrovsky stopped two quick shots in succession, but couldn’t stop Shane Doan from scoring the game winner.
Coach Peter Laviolette commented after the game that, “I said going out in the second period, I just had a nervous feeling. I thought the game should’ve been 4-0 at that point. It wasn’t. It was 1-0, and then even in the third period, there were a lot of looks, a lot of opportunities, and chances that seemed like they were doubled up in our favor, but we couldn’t break the [1-0 lead]. We ended up having to fight back… You look at it, you think you should win the game outright and at the end of the day, you’re lucky to get a point.”
Captain Mike Richards had a more succinct take on the loss: “It sucks. I don’t know what else to say.”
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky played remarkably well, all things considered. As mentioned, the defense had to play extra shifts both Sunday and tonight, with Carle and Chris Pronger eating up 26:56 and 28:07 of ice time, respectively. Timonen and Meszaros were off their games, but it happens in these situations.
Hopefully, the defense can get some rest and some healthy recruits for Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders.
For in-game updates and post-game videos, you can follow me on twitter (@JoshJanet).
That Upshall hit was B.S.