I feel sorry for you if you didn't catch the ending to this one. After losing in Chicago 7-2 in December the Flyers came out on top against the Blackhawks tonight 3-2 thanks to captain Claude Giroux, who beat rookie Antti Raanta over his shoulder with 4 seconds left in overtime, a complete display of why Giroux is such a great captain.
Ray Emery got the start in tonight's game, his first since before the Olympic break. Mason had started 14 of the previous 15 so it was good to get him some rest. Emery gave up 2 quick goals in the first four minutes of the game but did not let that phase him. Andrew Shaw and Duncan Keith scored those 2 for the Blackhawks. Razor Ray settled in quickly though, not allowing anything else to get past him en route to a 23 save performance.
Scott Hartnell dominated the first period for the Flyers in terms of goals. He single-handedly tied it at 2-2 to go into the first break. The first goal he scored was almost pure luck, but hey, we'll take it. Hartnell got possession of the puck behind the net and wrapped around to feed a pass to Giroux, but it was deflected by Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger and hit Raanta's skate to trickle into the net. The second goal came on a feed from Giroux behind the net that Kruger didn't interfere with. Nope, just pure Hartnell lightning.
The second and third periods were much slower paced. It seemed as if both teams made an effort to stop the lazy passes towards the middle of the ice. The teams were noticeably on each other's nerves all night. Rinaldo and Simmonds each got five for fighting, Simmons penalty taking him out for the final five minutes of regulation.
Overtime was slow as well, but the Flyers literally just through a switch with 10 seconds left in OT. Streit fed Giroux who was streaking up ice and blasted a shot that Raanta had no chance with. The puck went top left and bounced back to hit Raanta and go back into the net. So that's kinda like 2 goals, right?
This loss adds to a 17-year streak the Blackhawks own of not being able to win a regular season game in Philadelphia, though I'm sure they don't really care given that they won their Stanley Cup on our ice.
This stretch was supposed to kill the Flyers, but they've earned all 6 possible points, sweeping the Penguins this weekend and defeating the Stanley Cup champions. The Rangers won tonight too, so this win keeps the orange and black in 2nd place above New York in the Metropolitan. Dallas is up next on home ice, Thursday at 7.
-Ben Lebo
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
Scott Hartnell dominated the first period for the Flyers in terms of goals. He single-handedly tied it at 2-2 to go into the first break. The first goal he scored was almost pure luck, but hey, we'll take it. Hartnell got possession of the puck behind the net and wrapped around to feed a pass to Giroux, but it was deflected by Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger and hit Raanta's skate to trickle into the net. The second goal came on a feed from Giroux behind the net that Kruger didn't interfere with. Nope, just pure Hartnell lightning.
The second and third periods were much slower paced. It seemed as if both teams made an effort to stop the lazy passes towards the middle of the ice. The teams were noticeably on each other's nerves all night. Rinaldo and Simmonds each got five for fighting, Simmons penalty taking him out for the final five minutes of regulation.
Overtime was slow as well, but the Flyers literally just through a switch with 10 seconds left in OT. Streit fed Giroux who was streaking up ice and blasted a shot that Raanta had no chance with. The puck went top left and bounced back to hit Raanta and go back into the net. So that's kinda like 2 goals, right?
This loss adds to a 17-year streak the Blackhawks own of not being able to win a regular season game in Philadelphia, though I'm sure they don't really care given that they won their Stanley Cup on our ice.
This stretch was supposed to kill the Flyers, but they've earned all 6 possible points, sweeping the Penguins this weekend and defeating the Stanley Cup champions. The Rangers won tonight too, so this win keeps the orange and black in 2nd place above New York in the Metropolitan. Dallas is up next on home ice, Thursday at 7.
-Ben Lebo
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
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