The Captain Returns, Flyers get Much Needed Win, 4-3. The Philadelphia Flyers (9-4-3) who have been struggling mightily despite staying in the playoff hunt, took on the (6-8-3) New York Rangers on Wednesday evening.
After what may have been his worst outing, Carter Hart would sit this one out. Brian Elliott took his place. That was just one of the subplots in this one. A dismal showing in Lake Tahoe needed to stand as a “wake up” call for a club. This team has too much talent to continue to play less than par.
Captain Claude Giroux returned after his sitting for a Covid concerns and paid immediate dividends. With just 7:48 played, Shayne Gostisbehere and Giroux (3a) set up Erik Gustafson (1g,1a) to put the Flyguys up, 1-0.
The lead, as has been the pattern, wouldn’t last long and Chris Krieder scored the first of his three to get it knotted up on the man advantage at 9:32.
Another issue with the Black and Orange has been the power play and they came in with just one goal in their last eight tries. Scratch that off the “things to fix” list as Gostisbehere (1g,1a) lit the lamp on the advantage to close the first segment with a Flyers 2-1 lead.
While you have your pencil out, two more things can be scratched off the list, if only for one night.
Shots on goal. Philadelphia has been dismal all season by allowing an abundance of shots while not mounting many of their own. Well well Elizabeth, look what we found? The Flyers posted 15 shots while limiting the Rangers to only 9.
The middle stanza played like a chess match with both teams having chances but being unable to cash in. Philly went on another man up and, the wonder of wonders scored again!
Sean Couturier and Joel Farabee set the table for Shayne Gostisbehere (1g, 1a). With 15:55 left in the second, Philly forged a two-goal edge at 3-1.
At 8:03, Krieder countered with his second power play goal to draw the Rangers within one, 3-2.
Giroux picked up his third helper of the game when Kevin Hayes (1g) lit the lamp. This took the festivities to the final stanza.
With 12:33 left on the clock, Krieder got the cardboard cutouts on the edge of their seats when he gathered his hat trick.
Could the Flyers hold on for the final 11:33? The answer came back as a yes. A momentum-building feel-good game that, for a change, had more positives than negatives.
Elliott faced 27 shots and had an answer for 24 of them. Iger Shesterkin had more of the work in the New York with Philly having an uncharacteristic 39 shots of which he stood tall on 35 of them.
The Flyguys dominated on face offs, 35-21 with Couturier accounting for 15 of 23, Connor Bunnamon 10 for 14, and Claude Giroux nabbing 7 of 10.
The Captain Returns, Flyers get Much Needed Win
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
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