Introductions
My first trip to the Wells Fargo Center since the virus-shortened 2019-20 season. The organization's media relations department remains, as it has always been, first-rate. The experience has held since 2011 when I was first credentialed.
Pregame as a member of the media includes a good meal (chicken Marsala, with nice sides, soup, and a chocolate chunk cookie) on the lower level, followed by setup. Looking down at the empty arena before any game is always a surreal moment, as personal hockey history, dating back to the 1970s and career sports experience, dating back to the late 1980s, collides. Use of that verb, rather than combines, felt right based on the nature of this sport.
The Philadelphia Flyers (8-9-4) enters the tilt as pressure continues to build, with seven consecutive losses (including one by shootout and another in overtime). The Tampa Bay Lightning (14-5-4). At this pace, the Flyers face a challenge remaining in the playoff hunt. The reigning, two-time Stanley Cup champion Lightning could three-peat.
Claude Giroux is the Flyers leading scorer with 18 points. The Lightning have three players at 20 points or above, led by Steven Stamkos, 26 points. Victor Hedman is second in scoring, with 23 points. That contrasts with the Flyers lack of its top D-man, Ryan Ellis, who was the key off-season addition, is reinforced as a result.
Lightning starters: Former Flyer, goalie Brian Elliott, defensemen Jan Rutta, Hedman, and forwards Alex Killorn, Gabriel Fortier, and Anthony Cirelli.
Flyers starters: Goalie Carter Hart, defenseman Ivan Provorov, Rasmus Ristolainen, Giroux, Cam Atkinson, and Sean Couturier. Also, Patrick Brown returns after missing time due to injury.
The evergreen sound of Lauren Hart, with the digital flag-waving full-ice, as the anthem plays, never tires.
A fitting moment of silence for Flyers executive Phil Weinberg, who recently passed, reminds fans of the family feel that has been a prominent part of this team's storied history. He is considered by many to be second only to founder Ed Snider as the most important off-ice figure in franchise history.
Flyers with the early shot advantage (6-2), through nearly the first seven minutes of the game. A potential Lightning goal review confirmed that the puck did not cross the goal line at 7:08.
Hart's calm demeanor reflects what he's recaptured or re-instituted following last season's sidetrack. However, defensive issues continue.
Tampa goal at 8:24, scored by Ryan McDonaugh (his second goal of the season). Assists from Stamkos and Mathieu Joseph.
The lead doubled exactly one minute later, as Corey Perry scored (his fourth of the season). Assists from McDonagh and former Flyer, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
Flyers are outshooting the Lightning 12-8 with nearly eight minutes remaining in the frame.
Minimal pressure on Moose (who is 36), which he could not claim last season. The volume of games he was needed in during the 2020-21 season wore him down, with this season's move to Martin Jones (32) deemed necessary.
Shots: Philadelphia 14 - Tampa 9
Score: Tampa 2 - Philadelphia 0
Intermission Mites On Ice is always a crowd-pleaser.
Giroux Flyers offensive Time-on-ice leader (6:50) in this period. Last year of his contract and time in Philadelphia? Later season trade potential, if this team does not reverse course and Giroux (who has a no-movement clause) agrees to be dealt from the team he captains.
Second period
Tampa took it to 3-0 at the 2:56 mark. Goal scored by Taylor Raddysh (his second of the season). Assists from Hedman and Ross Colton.
Flyers had a 10-game losing streak during the Hakstol era but made the playoffs. A loss today would put them two away from a double-digit line no one wants to reach.
Game likely out of reach at 6:47. Boris Katchouk (his first of the season). Assists from Colton and Hedman.
During a Flyers power play - A misplay by Hart turned the puck over to Joseph, who scored an unassisted and short-handed goal at 8:34. The goal was Joseph's fourth overall of the season.
That led to Hart's pull from the game, with Jones replacing him.
Strong teams know how to sink the knife on a weakened opponent. Flyers need to regain composure and try to outscore Lightning from here on out to gain something from this game.
Philadelphia out-shooting Tampa Bay 19-17 through slightly over thirteen minutes into the period.
Nothing to show on a power play, as the Flyers' offensive zone confidence was shaken weeks ago.
A goal review took place, with the position of Scott Laughton's stick, when he touched a puck that then crossed the goal line, being in doubt. It was determined that a high stick was used. So, no goal. Yes, it is one of those games for Alain Vigneault's squad.
Shots: Philadelphia 23- Tampa 18
Score: Tampa 5 - Philadelphia 0
Another Mites On Ice gave the crowd something to cheer for.
Third period
The sixth goal was scored by former Flyers' property, Pat Maroon (his fifth of the season) at 5:29. Assists from Perry and Hedman.
A brawl ensued shortly after behind Elliott, with the fans offering a 1970's style cheers. Flyers gained the man advantage at 6:38, hoping to avoid the shutout. And they did, as a deflected goal by Atkinson (his eighth of the season), on a shot by Giroux, made the score 6-1 at 7:04. The other assist went to Keith Yandle.
Atkinson ended a goal drought that dates back to the Flyers last win, on November 16, 2021, against the Calgary Flames. His tally was the OT game-winner.
Perry got his second of the night at 14:15, to make it 7-1. Assists from McDonagh and Colton.
Sean Couturier was hit by a puck in the mouth in the second period, which caused significant bleeding. He returned and was wearing a cage.
Shots: Philadelphia 39 - Tampa 27
Score: Tampa 7 - Philadelphia 1
After the horn sounded
Vigneault and General Manager Chuck Fletcher have not made injury excuses. This team and others have battled that challenge.
Fletcher did change and arguably lengthen the roster in the off-season. But he is still building depth. So, injuries have reinforced organizational challenges that persist.
The following quotes from the post-game presser are courtesy of the Flyers Media Department, with media questions noted:
Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault
You couldn’t have asked for a better start in the first 5 minutes of the game, what happened after that?
That’s a good question. I really liked out energy and we talked about setting a fast-paced game against a team who played last night, which we did initially. I think we still kept going at them hard after their first goal and their second goal for whatever reason hurt us. They were able to find the back of our net after their first couple chances. It didn’t go well for us, and we will have to regroup here since we don’t have a lot of time before we play tomorrow.
What do you tell your team after a game like this?
At the end of the day no one is going to feel sorry for us. We had two good practice days and I thought we came out hard, but obviously everything that unfolded after their second goal wasn’t very good. We will get back at it here tomorrow and have a couple quick meetings and get our guys focused on what we need to do on the ice and hopefully we can bring the energy and execution against a really solid team.
Are you and the team just struggling for answers right now?
We are looking for solutions to our situation. We all have a job to do and need to get to work and do our part. The guy that is the leader of this group who has both his hands on the steering wheel is me and I have to find a way to get this group to play better. We are in a bad skid right now and we need to end this. We have an opportunity tomorrow night and hopefully we will play better.
Will Jones be in goal?
Yes.
Philadelphia Flyers G Carter Hart
Is it hard as a team to keep out negative thoughts?
I mean obviously not the result we want, but I think we are trying hard. Just things aren’t going our way right now. It’s tough, but we just have to stick with it. It can be hard to do that when things aren’t going our way, but we just got to keep working. We started off hot and came out hard, but they got a couple early and it went from there.
What happened on your final goal?
I mean I just turned it over and they put it on the net.
Were you okay leaving the crease or do you think you should have stayed?
I mean I was trying to get it off the boards and I didn’t, and it was put in the net. It was a tough break and I have to make a better play.
Philadelphia Flyers LW James van Riemsdyk
James, you guys had basically the start you wanted in the game. When things are going the way they are, how easy is it to have negative thoughts?
Like you said, I thought we got off to a good start. They bent but didn’t break. Unfortunately, when they got a couple, it seemed to snowball on us. It seems to be the way it’s been going for us lately.
Does it feel a lot like last season when one thing went wrong, it became part of that downward spiral that you talked all training camp about avoiding. Does it feel like that?
Yeah, it’s hard to say. Certainly, tonight it went that way for sure. I don’t know. It’s hard to really put your finger on it. Obviously not good enough and I think we’re capable of a lot better.
It seems like some guys are passing up opportunities on some pretty good chances or overthinking it. Why do you think that is and how do you go about fixing that?
I think we have a lot of guys in there that really care and want to do well. When it’s not going our way like it is right now, sometimes that can creep in a little bit. I think as hard as it can be, we have to do a good job of staying positive and just sticking to playing direct and try to play with your instincts. That’s usually when you play your best. Obviously, we know we’ve dug ourselves a little bit of a hole here, but we have a big game tomorrow night. We have to have the mindset and the attitude that it starts tomorrow and have a good game, good first shift, good first period, and then build off that.
Philadelphia Flyers RW Cam Atkinson
AV said he’s the one with his hands on the steering wheel, is it a little embarrassing when you come out and perform like that and he’s the one who has to take the heat?
Absolutely, it’s not a little embarrassing, at the end of the day it’s the players that have to dig deep, and obviously stick together. I’ve been in a lot worse situations than this. At the end of the day, we have to take a little pride in coming to the rink and battling. It’s ultimately the players that are going to dig ourselves out of this. I think we had a good conversation after the game. Luckily, we have another opportunity tomorrow to just play the right way- play hard, play for each other.
Do you think you guys are over-passing, overthinking certain plays in the offensive zone?
Yeah, sometimes or most of the times it looks like we’re trying to pass the puck into the net. We need to shoot the puck. That’s where you get rebounds. I think we’re trying to be a little too cute. We score all our goals in the dirty areas. We’re not in position to try making those plays. The more shots, the more opportunities we’re going to get. Sometimes when you get those opportunities, it goes off your shin pad, or off your skate, whatever it is.
You said there was a conversation between the players after the game. What was the theme of that conversation?
I think, I said in the first question, just play with pride, play for each other. Obviously, we’re embarrassed. There’s no question about that. Our fans are, they support us, and to lay a goose egg like that in front of them, it’s embarrassing. Take a hard look in the mirror and we have another opportunity tomorrow. Let’s get back on track.
Philadelphia Flyers C Claude Giroux
AV talked about how you guys had two good days of practice and liked where everyone was. The you have a game like tonight, how do you reconcile those two things?
We started well and had some good shifts. They scored the one and they played the right way.
Do you get the sense that right now this is a fragile team, where one thing goes wrong and it snowballs?
I mean if you look at the game tonight, yeah. I think that is pretty accurate. I have played a lot of embarrassing games, and this is definitely one of them. We need to figure it out pretty quick here.
Cam said you guys had a good conversation in the locker room after the game, what was the theme of that conversation?
Well obviously, that is going to stay there. Personally, I have been on a team here where we lost 10 in a row and made the playoffs, so I know it may be weird to say but we do have confidence in each other. We can be a dangerous team and we know we can win some hockey games. Right now, we just need to find our swagger, compete and play 60 minutes. Right now, we just aren’t doing that.
Tampa Bay Lightning G Brian Elliott
After spending so much time here, was this an important experience/game that you win?
Anytime that you come to a building that you’ve played a while at, you want to have success, you want to shake off the demons. It’s something that you definitely circle in the calendar and if you get a chance to play you want to do your best. We’re coming off a game that we probably didn’t play our best, in Boston we got two points and back-to-back while they were waiting for us. It’s sometimes the recipe for disaster but I thought our guys responded, saw some big goals from the young guys coming through with fresh legs. Get seven, hopefully get a win.
Did you hear some of those Moose calls in the stands?
No, you never know if it's a ‘boo’ or a ‘moose’, so you try not to listen to them. It was the same when I was playing here. You try to zone it out.
First five or so minutes of the game you had to be really sharp coming off the back-to-back, until your team got their legs going, how aware of that are you as a goalie and can you talk about that first stretch there for you?
They’re a desperate team over there, I’ve been in that situation with the same team. It’s not a good feeling when you’re not getting the results you want. We knew they were going to come hard with a bit of a push. I thought we did a really good job weathering it and moving on from that. It shows the maturity and the culture in our room to be able to do that. It’s a big two points to bag and move on to the Canadian leg of our trip here.
