The Philadelphia Flyers out played the Carolina Hurricanes all night. Unfortunately it did not translate to a victory. Joakim Nordstrom, Jordan and Eric Staal all scored. Cam Ward made 36 saves and the Hurricanes defeated the Flyers 3-1 on Tuesday night at PNC Arena.
The first period was very methodical. Both teams had stretches of strong forechecking, good defensive zone coverage and limited scoring chances.
Carolina had the game's first power play when Wayne Simmonds was called for unsportsmanlike conduct at 10:27. Simmonds got into a heated exchange with the official after a non call in the Carolina end and found himself in the box as a result.
Jordan Staal had the best chance for the Hurricanes when he missed a wide open net. Staal got too much air under his shot attempt and fired the puck high over target.
Philadelphia had a chance with the man advantage just 30 seconds after the Simmonds minor expired. The Flyers never got anything going with the power play and Carolina easily killed off the penalty.
The Flyers finally did get on the board at 17:45 when Scott Laughton beat Cam Ward from the top of the circle. Laughton flinged a puck towards the net and it found it's way through the five hole to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. Matt Read and Radko Gudas had the assists.
Michal Neuvirth stopped all eight shots he faced over the opening 20 minutes and the teams went to the locker room with Philly ahead 1-0.
The second period saw more extended pressure from the Flyers but they were unable to score despite outshooting the Hurricanes 15-7 for the period. Carolina did capitalize scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead after two.
Carolina's first goal of the night was scored by Joakim Nordstrom. Nordstrom scored following a turnover by Neuvirth at 8:09. The goal was his eigth of the season and was unassisted.
The second goal came off the stick of Jordan Staal. Staal beat Neuvirth in tight after the puck bounced off the referee's skate in the corner and came right in front. Brett Pesce was credited with an assist on Staal's 16th of the season.
Ward made several excellent saves to preserve the lead heading into the third.
The Flyers got an early power play when Pesce was called for holding at 3:50 of the third. The Flyers could not get much going with the extra man and Carolina once again killed off the penalty.
Carolina extended their lead to 3-1 at 14:11 of the third when Eric Staal notched his 10th of the year. Staal batted home a rebound in tight. Elias Lindholm and Jay McClement picked up the assists.
The Flyers could not mount another comeback as Carolina skated away with the 3-1 victory.
Shayne Gostisbehere saw his 15 game point streak snapped in the loss. The Flyers are back in action on Thursday night when they host Minnesota.
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill @wtfd103074
