Introductions
Philadelphia enters the afternoon tilt (3 PM puck drop on ABC) at 16-28-10. The Flyers are in last place in the Metro.
Chicago is 20-27-8 and in seventh place in the Central division of the Western Conference.
Both teams will be selling into the National Hockey League's trade deadline on March 21. The pending end of the Claude Giroux era highlights this Flyers' season and current plight.
Martin Jones starts in goal for the Flyers.
Kevin Lankinen starts in goal for the Blackhawks.
The Marvel Comics theme event resulted in what appears to be one of the larger actual attendance volumes of the season.
First period
Philly scored first on a nice tip in front by Oskar Lindblom - His ninth of the season at 4:46. Assisted by Travis Sandheim and the returning Kevin Hayes.
Giroux was dumped in front of the Blackhawks' net moments later, with the captain getting up slowly. The interference penalty did not result in an injury, which is not what this organization needs, weeks before the anticipated deal of one of its all-time great players.
Back-and-forth play through the frame, with few high-percentage chances.
Shots: Philadelphia – 12 – Chicago 10
Score: Philadelphia – 1 Chicago 0
Intermission: Mites on Ice included a great goal by number 28. Fitting.
Second period
Chicago's leading goal scorer, Alex DeBrincat scored his thirty-first of the season, 24 seconds into the period. Assisted by Jonathan Toews. Philadelphia could not hold the lead on multiple occasions against Minnesota on Thursday, eventually losing 5-4.
Caleb Strome scored his tenth of the year at 12:39 on a close-in shot that Jones had no chance to stop. Assisted by Patrick Kane and Dominik Kubilick.
A sharp tic-tac-toe play gave Cam Atkinson an easy goal at 15:28, to tie the game at 2-2. It was his nineteenth of the season. Assisted by Joel Farabee. A melee ensued after the goal with a roughing penalty to Toews, putting the Flyers on the powerplay. Derick Brassard and Calvin De Haan also were to the box for roughing.
Chicago quickly reclaimed the lead, with Strome scoring at 18:02. Jones could not stop the wrister over his left shoulder from close range. The goal, his second of the game, was unassisted.
Shots: Philadelphia – 7 – Chicago 12
Score: Philadelphia – 2 - Chicago 3
Intermission: Fan attempts at goal targets reinforced the skill seen on the ice in-game.
Third period
Farabee appeared to tip in a shot Brassard shot through Lankinen at 3:09. But the puck crossed the goal line before Farabee added the helper. It was Brassard's fifth tally of the season. Assisted by Atkinson, along with the aforementioned Farabee.
Atkinson ripped the puck with a wicked wrist shot past Lankinen at 8:28. It was his second of the game and twentieth goal of the season. Assisted by Farabee.
Kevin Connaughton left the ice after being hit hard against the boards by Kirby Dach, who was not penalized. He was involved in a few physical plays before the last hit he received.
All players on the ice by the Flyers goal, including Jones, became involved in pushing, shoving, and some fisticuffs at 11:49.
Off-setting roughing penalties to Connor Murphy, Caleb Jones, Travis Konecny, and Rasmus Ristolainen resulted.
Seth Jones held Lindblom at 12:42. But Lindblom was charged with a double-minor for high-sticking, giving Chicago the power play.
An undisciplined Too Many Men On The Ice penalty gave the Flyers a power play with 1:26 left in the game. Served by Kubilick.
Chicago pulled their goalie and called a 30-second time out with 29.3 seconds remaining after a stoppage due to the puck hitting the screen in the Flyers' offensive zone.
Shots: Philadelphia – 8 (27 total) Chicago -7 (29 total)
Final Score: Philadelphia – 4 Chicago - 3
The team responded to head coach, Mike Yeo's impassioned post-game address that he described as a one-way talk.
The Flyers went 0-4 on the power play.
Hayes looked solid in his return to the team after being out since mid-January.
Unless he misses a time, Giroux's 1,000 game in a Flyers' uniform will happen at home on March 17, against the Nashville Predators.
(Photos courtesy of Sean O'Brien.)
Per the Flyers Media Department: Philadelphia's regular season home winning streak against Chicago dates back 17 games, to March 31, 1998. Of course Flyers fans recall that the team lost one playoff game to the Blackhawks in 2010. That was the decisive Game 6 loss in the Stanley Cup Final. The 4-3 decision happened in overtime and represents the last time the franchise has appeared in the Final since that fateful June 9 day in Philadelphia.
The following quotes from the post-game presser are courtesy of the Flyers Media Department, with media questions noted:
Philadelphia Flyers Interim Head Coach Mike Yeo
After Thursday's game and then again on Friday you sent a message to the group that you expected more. Are you happy with the response today even though it wasn't a perfect game?
No, it wasn't a perfect game, no question. Set it off in the second period and we talked about a winning attitude and just kind of recognize that we are down a goal and at home here. I liked the way we came out in the third, that's for sure. So positive stuff.
How pleased were you with the first and the second line as a whole?
Oh they were outstanding obviously. We needed something. It was disappointing to give up that goal late in the period because that should of been a moment to really build off of in the game. Not just the fact that they scored it, but how they scored it. For a little while here lately, I feel like we have been a rush or nothing team. When you play like that you end up defending too much and obviously it is a little more difficult to create some offense as a team who hasn't given up a lot against the rush. So for us to recognize that and get it off the forecheck, that is what we needed in that situation.
How was it to see Kevin Hayes come back in the lineup?
I thought he looked good and had some looks. One thing about Haysey is he has got great instincts. He sees the ice and sees the game well. But he was clearly moving better than he was when he left the lineup when he was playing earlier in the season. Hopefully a real positive step and hopefully he can maintain that because he is a real valuable player for our group. Both from the leadership perspective and his love of the game and also the way he can play and contribute.
Mike, did you like the way Derick Brassard responded? Said he came into your office yesterday to get to work.
That is what we are looking for. I said it before the game. Accountability, it is one thing to say it, but you've gotta go out and do it. He definitely did that tonight.
Mike, what is Kevin Connauton’s status right now?
I haven't got an update, but obviously what I saw it did not look too good. I went in after the game to try and find him, but he was still getting looked at so I haven't gotten a report yet.
Chicago Blackhawks Head Coach Derek King
So was that not the way you wanted the third period to go?
It wasn’t exactly the way we drew it up. Overall, I think that we battled and played well. We just couldn’t hold on to that lead. We got a little sloppy at times and maybe a little anxious. They strike on you. They got some guys that can put the puck in the net.
How do you explain the four too many men penalties in two games?
That’s on me. I can do a better job on the bench. Making sure these guys know exactly who is out there. That’s my responsibility. There’s a little bit of anxiousness where we trying to do the same right things, we’re working and we’re jumping a little too early. We just want to get in there and try to be that guy that gets a goal. That’s definitely on me and I’ll clean that up.
At the end there, you guys had seven guys in the o-zone. How does that happen?
Maybe I didn’t have the right guys going on that. It’s just miscommunication. I’ll be better.
Was this a fun game to be a part of?
It was like an old 80’s game at the old Spectrum, with the scrums and everything after. We always want to play exciting hockey. I thought we were doing a good job. We just kind of cut back on our heels. They tilted the ice on us. We made a few mistakes with passing and penalties weren’t going right our way. There’s some work we have to do. Clean up in some areas and go right back at it tomorrow.
Lankinen’s been playing well but gets a few by him…
He’s playing. He deserves better. I think we deserve a little better. He’s making some saves. He made some good saves for us earlier in the game. It’s unfortunate that the one that goes in that goes over him that he was screened on was a little unfortunate. Again, no excuses. We know we’re down and we pull our goalie, there’s no excuses for a too many men call. Again, that’s on me and I’ll work to be better at it. Hopefully, the next time we’re in that position, we have the right guys on the ice and we score a goal.
Philadelphia Flyers LW Joel Farabee & C Kevin Hayes
Kevin, first game back. How did it feel out there?
It felt pretty good. I was lucky enough to get a few chances right away and get my confidence back. It is nice when you are getting grade A’s right away and playing with good players.
Kevin, we just talked to Mike and he said he felt like you were moving better in this game than the past. Did you kind of feel that as well?
This is ‘night and day’ compared to how I felt the previous I don't know 15 games I played.
Joel, it has been awhile since you, Cam and Derick were in a line together. Was it really easy to find that chemistry?
Yeah, I think in the first we were kind of fighting it a little bit. I think Derick said to me “just stick with it.” I think playing with two older guys they really understand that part of the game. We kind of just waited for our chances and executed when we needed to.
Joel, we heard that Derick said he wasn't pleased with how he played last game. How do you think he stepped up and adjusted?
Yeah, for sure. I think with Brass he is a guy that is really good on faceoffs and is really responsible. When he is playing his A-game it is fun to play with and he is a huge part of this team.
Philadelphia Flyers RW Cam Atkinson
How does it feel back together with Derrick and Joel, your line, looks like you guys found that chemistry together again right away?
Yeah I think in the first period we were easing our way into it a little bit but once we started making plays and supporting each other that’s when the right plays were there to be made and we just capitalized on opportunities.
Is there something special about the way those two guys play or the way you guys all complement each other that makes that line flow so well?
I think they’re always looking to play. They know I like to shoot the puck. I think we just support each other, that’s the biggest thing. That’s what we talked about before the game is being close and making those little 5-foot plays. It was nice to finally get a couple goals as a line.
Did it surprise you how quick the chemistry came back?
No. Those guys are really good players. I think we had our legs, too, which helps. Like I said, I don’t think our first period, it wasn’t anything special. But when we started making those plays and feeling good about ourselves and wanting the puck and wanting to make a difference, that's when things opened up for us.
Chicago Blackhawks D Seth Jones
How would you sum this game up?
I thought we played a pretty good game. We had a lead on the road at a tough building to play in. Up 3-2, we were feeling pretty good about our game. The last two goals that we gave up were unforced errors on our part.
How do the too many men penalties happen?
I don’t know to be honest. Two in our last game, two tonight. That should be good for the whole season. We need better communication.
What was it like to be in a game like today’s?
It was fun. I think everyone loves playing in games like that. It was intense. There were a lot of team meetings in front of each net. Tonight, it felt like a playoff atmosphere. We were in it physically and mentally. It sucks being on the wrong side, but I love the intensity we were playing in. In the scrums, all of our guys were in there. It was great to see especially in the tough time that we’re in right now. We have got to stick together.
Philadelphia Flyers G Martin Jones
Martin, what do you think the difference was between this third period and the third period you guys had on Thursday? You kinda flipped the script there.
I thought we tracked really well all night. Just the way the game was, it was obviously a very physical game and the guys didn’t really have a choice but to be engaged and kinda battling out there real hard. I thought we did a good job around the net and checked real hard.
Martin this was a game trailing after two periods really could have gone sideways the rest of the way (inaudible) was the mood in the room that this game was still winnable going into the final period?
We were down one goal, of course it was winnable. We’ve talked a lot recently about games that have been right there for us and we’ve talked about closing games out and just doing a better job just making sure we’re detail oriented and doing all the little things that help you win hockey games especially in the third period.
Martin, Kevin Hayes said that Mike Yeo called the team out pretty loudly after the last game. Do you think his message was perceived by you guys?
Yup.
How do you think the message was perceived? Obviously you guys showed it in the third period (inaudible).
I think the whole game we we’re really physically engaged and it was a strong game for us.
Chicago Blackhawks C Dylan Strome
Tough one. How would you sum that one up?
Yeah, I mean obviously it’s a tough way to lose. Have a lead going into the third gotta play better than we did, and then obviously can’t take that penalty that late in the game. Kind of finally got that power play there after all the scrums and couldn't capitalize so obviously that one sucks. It felt like we played pretty good and probably deserved a bit better than that.
That too many men on the ice, I don’t remember who was on for it, but how does that kind of thing happen now 4 in 2 games?
I mean that can’t happen obviously so gotta clean that up. It’s obviously not one guy, it’s kind of everyone gotta be aware of who you’re taking on the ice. If your guy comes off, you gotta go on, and if he doesn’t come off you’ve gotta be aware of that. It maybe looked like he was coming off and he didn’t come off. Those types of things happen. I’m really not sure how many how many we have this whole year but I don’t think it’s more than like six, and we have one in the last two games so the first 40-50 games, we’ve had two. That stuff happens sometimes so obviously gotta clean it up and give ourselves a better chance to tie it at the end.
Two goals for yourself, continuing to play well individually lately, what have you thought of your game?
I thought the line played pretty good. Some good chances. Capitalized, obviously Kane makes a great pass I just had to put it in the net. That was a heck of a play. Second one tried to hit Cat, puck came back to me. Tried to help the team win obviously, playing more minutes you want to be the guy that’s relied upon to score and to help the team win. I feel like that’s what I can try to do to help the team win and get it done and obviously we were close tonight.
Philadelphia Flyers C Derick Brassard
What changed between the last game and today’s?
Just trying to play better in the other game. It’s a long season. There’s going to be some ups and downs. Not everything is going to go your way every night. You’re not going to play your best, but you have to bounce back and just try to bring my density a little bit higher. I haven’t played in a while. You know this is my fourth game since all that time. Just trying to go harder tonight.
How much help did you get with playing with Joel and Cam?
They’re two really good offensive players. I think we had success early on in the season. It’s just that the playmaking game of Farabee and the finish of Atkinson… I think it’s a good line and tonight we came out big for the team. We scored some key goals in some key moments in the game and those two guys were buzzing around.
Is it easier to play in a very physical game?
With everything that has been going on this year, it’s been pretty hard on the guys and we’ve been battling pretty hard the last few months. We’re trying to build something here. We met and we felt like we could play better today. I think that the intensity of everyone went up tonight and we competed hard and it kind of shows that when we work hard, that we’re going to have success. It was a really good effort by our team tonight. Everyone played really strong. We know when with the intensity and the scrums after the whistle, the crowd likes that and gave us some energy so I think we used that tonight.
