PHILADELPHIA – It had all the makings of a promising victory, especially when the Flyers took a 3-0 lead early in the second period.
But the Flyers knew it wouldn’t be easy keeping that lead over the Vegas Golden Knights and it wasn’t.
Vegas came all the way back and won the game in a shootout, 5-4, on Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Vegas’ Jack Eichel got the only goal of the tiebreaker.
The Flyers finished their five-game homestand with a 2-2-1 mark.
On the plus side, three of the Flyers’ goals came from players you wouldn’t think would be making offensive contributions at the present time.
Morgan Frost scored just his second goal of the season, Sean Couturier his fifth and rookie defenseman Emil Andrae his first NHL goal against the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights.
One player who’s had no trouble putting the puck in the net this season, Matvei Michkov, scored a go-ahead goal at 13:18 of the second period for a 4-3 Flyer lead.
However, Tanner Pearson countered for the Golden Knights at 11:55 of the third to tie the score and send the decision to a shootout.
Coach John Tortorella said that with the exception of an eight-minute dip in the second period, he was satisfied with the way his team played.
That “gap” included a penalty by Couturier which allowed the Golden Knights to score their third goal.
“You take out seven or eight minutes of that second period, where there were turnovers on the wall – other than that I thought we played a really good hockey game,” Tortorella said. “A better showing in the offensive zone, as far as puck movement. Other than that eight minutes; but they’re a good team, they capitalize.”
Couturier did continue his improved play on offense but took the blame for the aforementioned crucial mishap.
“(The team) didn’t manage the game well,” he said “Late in the second, we’re up 4-2, a bad turnover by me. Penalty, next thing you know it’s 4-3 going into the third. If we’re up two there, it’s probably tough for them to come back in the third.”
Philadelphia raced to a 3-0 lead early in the second period only to see the Golden Knights break through with three goals of their own.
In one of the better periods of the season by the Flyers against a quality opponent, the first 20 minutes ended with a 2-0 lead over the Golden Knights.
The scoring opened with a goal from Frost at 8:51. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen started the play with a nifty move through the left faceoff circle. Frost’s only other goal came back on Nov. 5 at Carolina.
Couturier made it goals in two straight games to give the Flyers their two-goal margin. Couturier fired from the left faceoff dot and beat goaltender Ilya Samsonov at 12:07.
The Flyers made it 3-0 just 28 seconds into the second period. Andrae scored by following up the rebound of Garnet Hathaway’s close-in shot.
Then the Golden Knights finally woke up.
They cut the Flyers’ lead to 3-1 at 7:42 when Eichel pivoted in the slot and sent a shot past goalie Ivan Fedotov. That was followed by a goal from Ivan Barbashev at 11:32. Eichel, second in the NHL in assists with 26, sent a pinpoint pass to his linemate at the right post and Fedotov had no chance.
Michkov gave the Flyers some brief breathing room when he scored from close range, with Frost getting the primary assist for his first goal and assist game of the season.
But the Knights took advantage of the Couturier penalty to close to within one. Vegas won the faceoff (off Ryan Poehling) and needed only five seconds to score, with Pavel Dorofeyev doing the honors at 18:10.
>Frost gets going
It was probably Frost’s best game of the season from an offensive standpoint.
He said he’s been working at getting closer to the opposing net and taking the shot when the opportunity presents itself.
“I think that’s kind of when I’m at my best when I’m doing that,” he said. “Not overthinking things.”
Frost made a spectacular play in overtime. Although he didn’t score, he demonstrated the kind of moves that helped him score 19 goals last season.
“It was kind of just reaction,” he explained. “It was just a random thing to do.”
A two-point night should help in the confidence department.
“It’s nice to contribute,” he said. “Been struggling in that area for me obviously. Hopefully, build off it and keep contributing.”
This was Frost’s second game back after a three-game benching.
Added Tortorella: “Played better than he did the first game back. Much more noticeable offensively tonight.”
>Hockey Fights Cancer night
It was the annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Wells Fargo Center.
“Being part of our team’s recent cancer initiatives has been super enjoyable not just for me but for everyone involved,” said Poehling. “Getting to know some individuals and help brighten their day as they face tough times in their life has been amazing.”
