Every single point matters for the Philadelphia Flyers, and they were able to grab two with their win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.
Bobby Brink was recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and suited up to take Cam Atkinson’s spot as he was made a healthy scratch. Brink got the Flyers on the board just 2:22 into the first period to give the orange and black a 1-0 lead. Brink received a nice pass from Morgan Frost, who then deposited a wrist shot past Tampa’s netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy. Assists on Brink’s goal went to Frost and Staal.
Bobby Brink’s goal went so hard that he knocked the lights out of the WFC. pic.twitter.com/BxannxoPPC
— Tie My Skates (@tiemyskatespod) February 28, 2024
The Flyers took their first penalty of the game late in the first period as Owen Tippett lifted the puck up and out of play without deflection. They were able to kill off the Lightning’s top ranked power-play with the luck of missed shots by Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos while also getting blocked shots by Nick Seeler. Momentum definitely looked to be on the Flyer’s side as they got good shots on goal and had their skating legs early.
The Wells Fargo Center experienced a partial power outage that took out the lights in certain parts of the arena. This delayed the game by a little over nine minutes, but the league and referees decided to keep the game going as there were enough lights on the ice to continue play.
Lightning Strike
The momentum seemed to have switched over to the Lightning in the second period as the Flyers turned the puck over way too much and overall looked rather slow. The Flyers got caught with too many men on the ice just 3:15 into the second period which gave Tampa their second powerplay of the game. Twenty six seconds later, Anthony Cirelli was called for tripping, making it four on four. The Flyers defense broke down and Nick Paul scored his 17th of the season to tie the game up at 1-1.
Flyers Takeover
Tyson Foerster scored just 54 seconds into the third period to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. This is his fourth goal in three games. He managed to get a low backhanded shot from the left side underneath the arm of Vasilevskiy for his 14th of the season. Frost was the only assist on the goal.
Foerster now with four goals in his last three games. He’s good.
— James Iacovone (@JimIkeHW) February 28, 2024
Travis Sanheim gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead, going top shelf over Vasilevskiy from the right circle. Assists went to Noah Cates and Garnett Hathaway. This goal happened just two minutes and fourteen seconds after Foerster’s goal. Cates had great patience as he allowed Sanheim to get into the zone before passing it to him.
The floodgates opened as Sean Walker scored at the 6:35 mark of the third period to give the Flyers a 4-1 lead. Walker was able to get a rising wrist shot over the right shoulder of Vasilevskiy from the left circle. Assists went to Joel Farabee and Seeler.
Cooper Pulls Vasilevskiy
It’s not uncommon for Jon Cooper to pull his goaltender with a lot of time left. He pulled Vasilevskiy with a little over nine minutes to go in the third to try to get his team back in it after being down three goals. With the extra attacker, Stamkos scored the second goal for the Lightning as he rocketed a shot past Sam Ersson from the left circle to make it 4-2. The assists went to Point and Kucherov.
Cooper continued to pull Vasilevskiy to give his team a chance, but the Flyers ended up scoring two shorthanded goals by Cates and Cam York. Ryan Poehling was the only assist on Cates’ goal, and Sanheim was the only assist on York’s goal.
Ersson was sharp as he saved 20 of the 22 shots he faced. Vasilevskiy wasn’t as sharp as he saved 25 of 29 shots faced.
The Flyers powerplay continues to struggle as it went 0 for 3 on the night. Their penalty kill was perfect as they killed off both of Tampa Bay’s powerplays.
The Lightning were able to kill off all three Philadelphia powerplays.
Goal Summary:
1st Period
Brink (8) Assists: Frost (19), Staal (3)
2nd Period
Paul (17) Assists: Hagel (37)
3rd Period
Foerster (14) Assists: Frost (20)
Sanheim (8) Assists: Cates (9), Hathaway (4)
Walker (6) Assists: Farabee (27), Seeler (10)
Stamkos (24) Assists: Point (33), Kucherov (65)
Cates (3) (Empty Net) Assists: Poehling (12)
York (8) (Empty Net) Assists: Sanheim (28)
Next Game:
Flyers next game is Friday, March 1st in Washington against the Capitals.
MEGHAN REILLY IS A CONTRIBUTOR AND LIVE GAME TWEETER FOR HW HOCKEY
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PHOTO CREDIT: MATT SLOCUM/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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