The Carolina Hurricanes were shopping for a win in Philadelphia on Black Friday and they found exactly what they were looking for.
Sebastian Aho finished with 2 goals, bringing his team leading goal total to 10, while Jesperi Kotkaniemi potted the game-winner and Andrei Svechnikov iced the game with his 8th of the year early on in the 3rd as the Hurricanes snapped their 2 game losing streak and remain tied for 1st place in the Metro division with the Washington Capitals.
1st Period
The Flyers got the scoring started early for a change as defenseman Ivan Provorov opened the scoring just 50 seconds into the game with an assist from Claude Giroux. Carolina would go on to challenge the goal for goalie interference, a challenge they would eventually lose, thus “gifting” the Flyers a Power Play.
As has been the story for awhile now, the Flyers’ Power Play was lifeless and predictable as Carolina seemed to almost dare Philadelphia to enter the zone with possession. Carolina would kill off the penalty and subsequently take control of the game, eventually forcing Ivan Provorov to turn the puck over deep in his own zone, leading directly to a Sebastian Aho snipe to tie the score at 1-1.
Carolina were awarded 2 penalties in the period, 1 on Oskar Lindblom for tripping, which the Flyers killed and 1 on Justin Braun for delay of game. Carolina did not score on either man-advantage, however Joel Farabee was able to rip home his 6th goal of the season as he dazzled Carolina rookie Seth Jarvis, to put the Flyers up 2-1.
2nd Period
Somehow the Flyers looked better in the 2nd period than they did in the first and yet they were scored on 4 times, allowing 3 goals in the first 6 minutes of the period.
After being outshot 17-6 in the 1st period, the Flyers were able to hold Carolina to just 9 shots in the second, but as mentioned Carolina received goals from Aho (10), Fast (6), Kotkaniemi (4), and Lorentz (3).
While most of the scoring was done early and often, there was a lone bright spot for the Flyers as Rasmus Ristolainen potted his first goal of the season less than a minute after Aho tied the game at 2. Morgan Frost would also tally his 1st assist in just his 2nd game of the season.
3rd Period
The 3rd period was much of the same from Carolina and Philadelphia as Carolina was quite visibly the superior team all over the ice. Carolina would add one more goal as Andrei Svechnikov snapped his 11 game goal-less drought. Svechnikov, given time and space with the puck, roped a wrist shot over Carter Hart’s glove hand to put Carolina up 6-3 and shred all hopes of a Flyers comeback.
The Flyers have now lost 5 straight, going 0-3-2 in what has turned out to be almost worst case scenario during this tough November stretch. The Flyers next game is Sunday at New Jersey.
After the game, Flyers head coach mentioned how the Flyers are being challenged as an organization.
“It’s a challenging time, but everyone has to be better and that starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job of making sure that guys perform to their level.”
Photo: Matt Slocum/AP
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