Image courtesy of Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images
After the Philadelphia Flyers erased a two-goal deficit in the third period, the Los Angeles Kings scored the game's final goal on the way to a 3-2 road win. Dwight King scored the game-winning goal, while Jonathan Quick had 30 saves in the win. Jeff Carter and Justin Williams also scored for Los Angeles in the win.
The Flyers received goals from Matt Read and Jakub Voracek in the loss, while Ray Emery had 38 saves in a stellar performance.
Just 2:18 after Voracek tied the game on a redirection, King finished off a beautiful 2-on-1 for the Kings, as Emery didn't stand a chance in net after a nice feed from Slava Voynov.
The first 40 minutes of the tilt could have been a lot worse if Emery wasn't on his game tonight. Although he didn't accrue plenty of wonderful saves, Emery was forced to make a ton of saves to keep the game within reach for the hosts. Even after the Flyers tied the game up at two, a miscommunication and poor decision to attack the puck in the neutral zone by Kimmo Timonen led to a 2-on-1 that no goalie could have stopped.
The Kings are known as a dominant puck possession team and they showcased that tonight. With 41 shots on goal, the shot differential was only nine shots apart due to the Orange and Black's ability to produce chances on the power play. At even strength five-on-five hockey tonight, the Flyers were flat out embarrassed. Despite being constantly hemmed into their own zone for most of the game, the Flyers nearly came away with a point or two in the loss.
The Orange and Black may have only been outshot 14-9 in the opening frame, but it didn't feel that way, as the Flyers were manhandled at even strength for the first 20 minutes. With all of their scoring chances coming on the man advantage in the first period, the Flyers were often in their own defensive zone for the majority of the opening stanza. While Los Angeles cycled and produced a barrage of shots in the first period, the Flyers often found their way into the Kings' zone, but couldn't do much when they arrived there.
In the second period, Carter was able to beat Ray Emery on a rebound chance for his 25th goal of the season. After Alec Martinez launched one from the blue line at the point to Emery's left, a rebound went right to Carter in the opposite circle, where the former Flyer was able to put it home before Emery could move across the crease in time. The tally handed the visitors a 1-0 lead 1:49 into the middle period.
The Kings continued to dictate play until the final seven minutes of the second period, where the Flyers had a brief 5-on-3, as well as plenty of power-play time to tie up the game. Unfortunately the Orange and Black couldn't level the game at one.
Shortly after the Flyers' power-play time, another former Flyer made it a two-goal game late in the middle stanza. After a Robyn Regehr shot from the point was played poorly by Emery, Williams grabbed the loose puck at the bottom of the circle to the right of Emery and put it in the cage before Philly's goaltender had time to get back into position. Williams' 18th of the season came with just 2:32 remaining in the second period, as Los Angeles also closed out the period with a 33-18 shot advantage.
Read cut the deficit to one just 29 seconds into the third period on an awkward play that confused Quick. After Braydon Coburn barely kept the puck in the offensive zone at the blue line, the d-man released a shot towards the cage that Read redirected. On a path just inside the far post, Quick attempted to paddle the puck away rather than getting in position, which he had plenty of time to do. Due to Quick's decision, the disc found it's way into the net for Read's 20th of the year.
Later in the period, Voracek redirected a Scott Hartnell shot from the blue line past Quick to tie the game at two. Hartnell did a good job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone and just threw a shot on net, as the forward was rewarded with an assist on the play.
After winning three games in their difficult four-game home stand, and winning five of their last six games, the Orange and Black look to rebound on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.
NOTES: This was Emery's first regulation loss to the Kings in his career…Quick improved to 4-2-0 against the Flyers in his career…Despite tonight's loss, the Flyers have still won six of their last eight home games…The Orange and Black haven't beaten the Kings in Philly since their 2-0 decision on February 25th, 2009…In his first game with the Flyers since January 12th, Tye McGinn had three hits and a takeaway in 7:52 TOI…Carter, Martinez, and Toffoli each recorded their first career point against Philadelphia on Carter's 2nd period goal…Hartnell extended his point streak to four games with an assist on Voracek's goal. He has three goals and three assists during the streak…With a goal in tonight's loss, Voracek now has 99 goals in his NHL career…Tonight was Marian Gaborik's 800th NHL game. He had one shot on goal and one hit in 13:34 TOI…The Flyers dropped to 1-1-0 against the Kings this season. They are now 15-10-2 against the Western Conference and 8-6-0 against the Pacific Division…The Flyers are now 38-26-7. They were 41-22-8 after 71 games in 2011-2012.
