Flyers Fall Short Again, Penguins Force Series Back to Philadelphia

The Flyers got off to a hot start, playing with intensity and edge, something that was missing in Game 4. They registered the first 3 shots on goal of the game, and were dominating the Penguins in transition, who could not get a clean zone entry.

However, a dumped puck by Parker Wotherspoon (1) sent Rasmus Ristolainen into the zone to clear the zone, but he was met by Anthony Mantha (1), who decisively won the puck battle, and set up Elmer Soderblom (1) in the slot for the game’s first goal on their first shot of the game. The Penguins took the early 1-0 lead, something the Flyers wanted to avoid.

It had looked like the rest of the backcheck had got lost in the neutral zone, losing their assignment, leading to a complete breakdown – the sort of thing that can’t happen in the playoffs.

Not long after, Sam Girard got called for a trip, giving the Flyers a chance to answer on the power play. The Flyers could not punch one in on the power play, bringing things back to even strength.

Despite the Flyers’ great start, the Penguins quickly took control of the period.

Garnet Hathaway picked up a minor for tripping, then Evgeni Malkin started a bit of a scuffle. That resulted in roughing calls on him, Hathaway, and Travis Konecny. After things cooled down, Anthony Mantha gave Travis Sanheim a high cross-check. After all that, it was a Penguins power play.

The Flyers were able to kill the penalty and build some momentum towards the end of the period. Trevor Zegras had two great chances in the final two minutes, but he could not score. That brought the game into the first intermission, 1-0 Penguins.

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Flyers score twice, Penguins still lead

The start was just about as bad as it could get for the Flyers. Jamie Drysdale and Cam York got caught on a long (emphasis on long) shift as they could not clear the zone for the life of them. Eventually, the Penguins took advantage of the tired legs.

Sidney Crosby (3) set up Connor Dewar (2) for the goal, putting the Penguins up 2-0 early in the period. It looked to be the start of a disastrous period for the Flyers.

While PPG Paints Arena was still in mid-celebration, Alex Bump (1) made a great individual effort to go near post on Arturs Silovs, and get the Flyers on the board. One could say, he gave his team a BUMP of energy.

The Flyers put up a better effort in the second period than in the first. However, through the first 10 minutes of the second period, it still was not enough to halt the Penguins’ momentum.

There was a chance to gain some momentum after Travis Konecny drew a trip on Erik Karlsson, but the power-play struggles continued.

However, with less than five minutes to go in the period, the Flyers were able to even it up. Travis Sanheim (2) ripped a shot from the bottom of the dot. It looked like it may have hopped off Karlsson’s stick and in.

However, the 2-2 tie did not last long. Kris Letang (2) fired a shot that missed by a wide margin, but the bounce off the boards went off Dan Vladar’s back and in. The Penguins regained the 3-2 lead and took it into the second intermission.

Flyers can’t come back

Forced to make a third-period comeback against a team fighting for its season, the Flyers needed to find a goal in the third period and fast before things got out of hand.

They did not get much help as Emil Andrae was called for a trip just 1:37 into the period. It set up a massive power-play opportunity for the Penguins, and an even bigger kill for the Flyers.

Philly got the kill, mostly due to a fantastic effort from Luke Glendening and Sean Couturier taking away every lane up top in the first minute or so of the power play.

Despite the kill, it still ate a good bit of the clock, and in the blink of an eye, the first five minutes of the period ticked away. The Flyers had less and less time to mount their comeback.

15 minutes turned to 10, and the Flyers still had yet to have any good looks at tying the game. Philly just was unable to match the physicality Pittsburgh was bringing.

With about 8 to go, the Flyers put together a good shift, but Travis Konecny went wide from the slot, and a few other chances could not get through traffic. The Flyers looked completely lifeless as the clock ticked into desperation minutes.

The Flyers were unable to get Dan Vladar to the bench until there were 2 minutes left. Porter Martone had the game on his stick with about 50 seconds remaining, but it was stopped by Silovs. That forced Game 6 back in Philadelphia, with the 3-2 final on Monday in Game 5.

What’s next

With the first round now complete, the Flyers will have some time off as the rest of Round 1 comes to an end, before they take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2. With Game 7s scheduled for May 2nd and 3rd, I’d expect that series to start around May 4th.

The series will head back to Philadelphia for Game 6, where the Flyers have one last chance to put the Penguins away on Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. A time for puck drop is still to be determined.

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