The Philadelphia Flyers’ woes continued on Tuesday night as they lost to the Anaheim Ducks in a shootout, 4-3, extending their losing streak to their first four straight games.
Flyers goals came courtesy of Mark Streit, Wayne Simmonds, and Jakub Voracek, while Tim Jackman, Devonte Smith-Pelly, Matt Beleskey, and William Karlsson (SO) scored for the Ducks. Steve Mason recorded 25 saves on 28 shots. On the other side of the rink, Frederik Andersen held the Flyers to three goals on 42 shots.
It was a rough first period for the Flyers. They looked sloppy, with missed passes, whiffs on shots, and turnovers, while the Ducks looked sharp. The Flyers looked almost lost out on the ice at times, and it showed on the scoresheet, as they were outshot 15-11. If not for the great play of – and some major saves by – Mason, the Flyers might have been in an even deeper hole by the end of the period. The two goals given up in the first could have easily been avoided if the defense in front of the net was better (story of the Flyers’ struggles).
The second period looked as though it might be more of the same, though the Flyers appeared more disciplined and did not take any penalties. They did, however, have three power play opportunities and were able to score on two – Streit’s goal and Simmonds’ goal came just about five minutes apart from one another. After Streit’s PP goal, it seemed as though the Flyers finally found their momentum, and the Ducks seemed to be struggling a bit. Simmonds’ goal made it a tie game with less than three minutes left in the period, and it looked like they’d start the third with that tie.
However, Beleskey’s goal with just under seventeen seconds left gave the Ducks the lead again. The Flyers ended the period leading in shots, 18-6 (29-21 total).
There was a scary moment in the second period, when Nick Grossmann went face-first into the boards and did not appear to be moving for a few moments. At first glance, it looked like he was pushed by Ryan Kesler, but a closer look showed that his feet simply went out from under him. He was helped off the ice by the training crew, returning to the bench just a short while later.
It was a mostly quiet third period, goal-free and penalty-free, until 14:40 in when Voracek scored to tie up the game and wake up the crowd. The Ducks were unable to retaliate and take the lead back, thanks to several big-time saves by Mason, and for the second time in two games, the Flyers headed to overtime.
Just like their last game, Saturday’s against Montreal, the Flyers’ fate was to be decided in a shootout with the score tied 3-3. And just like in that game, the Flyers fell.
With his goal tonight, Simmonds now has a three-game goal/point streak (five goals, seven points).
The Flyers are on the road for the next week and a half, with stops in Dallas, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. They’ll take on the Dallas Stars on Saturday night, an 8p.m. start.
