It looked to be getting very ugly. Playing against another team at the bottom of the standings, the Philadelphia Flyers still couldn't find any offense. After a stretch of 27 minutes without a shot on goal, the Flyers were trailing 2-0 and only had three shots on goal halfway through the game.
Maybe the Flyers had finally found rock bottom. Things began to turn with Luke Schenn scoring a soft goal with a wrist shot from the wall. The Flyers had a better third period, outshooting the Hurricanes 11-3 and tying the game.
Lastly, Jakub Voracek finally scored his first goal of the season by tapping home a slap-pass from Michael Del Zotto in overtime. One goal in 16 games for Voracek, or squeaking an overtime win against a bottom-dwelling team isn't going to strike fear into the rest of the league, but you have to start somewhere.
Game Flow
Goals:
0 – 1. Lindholm (McClement, E. Staal). PHI on-ice: 12, 28, 93, 3, 15
0 – 2. PPG, Rask (E. Staal, J. Faulk). PHI on-ice: 21, 28, 3, 55
1 – 2. Schenn (Raffl, Voracek). PHI on-ice: 12, 28, 93, 22, 55
2 – 2. Simmonds (Gostisbehere, Manning). PHI on-ice: 14, 17, 24, 23, 53
3 – 2. 3v3, Voracek (Del Zotto, Giroux). PHI on-ice: 93, 28, 15
Forwards
(Bubble size indicates 5v5 ice time)
The Giroux line was a little more quiet than usual last night, attempting fewer shots than most nights. One goal in, one goal against at 5v5, while spending most of the night against the Hurricanes top line. The biggest takeaway for that group will be Voracek finally getting on the board this season.
The Couturier line led the team in ice time, and generally controlled the play against the Hurricanes third line. The Flyers will also be pleased to see this line score a big goal.
The Laughton line drew a matchup with the Hurricanes second line and did pretty well. White picked up an injury late, so we'll have to wait and see on his status.
Lastly, Gagner-Bellemare-Leier became the fourth line, but didn't have much to show for taking on weak competition. Leier will be pleased to make his NHL debut, but he had the least ice time and the worst Corsi numbers last night on the team.
Defense
(Bubble size indicates 5v5 ice time)
It was a different look from the Flyers defense last night, with Medvedev scratched and Streit now out injured. Without Streit, Del Zotto-Gudas become the de facto top pair.
Del Zotto-Gudas saw a bit of everyone, and Gudas led all Flyers in 5v5 ice time. They are an unlikely top pair, but given the Flyers options, they are the best choice. Overall it was a decent game for them in that role.
Schultz-Schenn find themselves lower on the Corsi than most recent games, as the Hurricanes top line of the Staals and Rask kept them in their zone. They still came out +1 in goals, however.
The final pair of Manning-Gostisbehere is something completely new for the Flyers. Gostisbehere is an exciting player, but he is still a work in progress. This pair will generally be more aggressive, but less consistent. Hakstol is probably taking the right approach with limiting their ice time. On the Flyers game-tying goal, however, you see the element Gostisbehere brings to the team. For that goal, he side-stepped a defender at the blue line and fired one in off Simmonds. Part talent, and partly the confidence of youth.
Marc Naples is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter@SuperScrub47.
