Instant reactions: Vladar pulled, offense nonexistent in Flyers loss to last place Rangers
· Yahoo Sports
The Philadelphia Flyers came home to take on the Eastern Conference’s worst team, the New York Rangers, having won four of five and battling to get back into the playoff race.
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They showed their desperation and desire to make the postseason by giving up six goals in 40 minutes to a Rangers team ranked 26th in scoring, averaging 2.68 goals/game, and leaving team MVP Dan Vladar out to dry. The Rangers’ power play went 3-for-4 through the first two periods, with the Flyers’ defense putting up very little resistance in front of Vladar, leaving large portions of the “hard areas” completely unchecked.
Matvei Michkov scored on the power play, giving him three goals against Igor Shesterkin this season, and Philly had very few other highlights in this forgettable loss to a team that has openly resigned itself to rebuilding.
First period
Highlight: I don’t know, the Flyers fell behind 3-0 in the first and didn’t do a whole lot. Christian Dvorak got poke-checked by Igor Shesterkin on a shorthanded breakaway, and Alex Bump nearly beat Shesterkin while the Flyers rookie’s mother was being interviewed on the broadcast. That would’ve been pretty cool had he scored. Philadelphia managed eight shots on goal, which ties the second period at Pittsburgh for the second-most SOG in a period this month. The Flyers have not had a double-digit shot period since the first in Toronto (14). That’s nine straight periods (and 10 minutes of overtime) in which the Orange & Black have had sub-10 shots. In fact, they haven’t hit nine in this stretch.
What I want to see next period: I want to see Matvei Michkov, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump and Trevor Zegras, and nobody else. And I’d seriously consider pulling Dan Vladar and resting him if he gives up another. Not as punishment, but because this team can’t hit 20 SOG in a game, let alone score 4-5 goals. Chalk this up as a loss and try again in a couple days.
Second period
Highlight:Michkov scores on the power play after a strong effort to keep the possession alive and get the Flyers on the board! Good work on the entry. Good work on the rebound. Good work on going to the net after the pass, and great hands and concentration to finish the play and get the goal in traffic. And hey! The Flyers have their second double-digit SOG period of March, but unfortunately, the Rangers scored three after that, essentially ending the game.
What I want to see next period: Quick period. Wave off all the icings. Yell at the goalies to stop them from freezing the puck. Unless there’s an assault, there shouldn’t be any penalties called. It’s 6 to f-ing 1. What’s the point of these final 20 minutes? I have no idea why Tocchet didn’t pull Vladar after the third or fourth goal to get him some rest, and instead has hung his MVP out to dry in a game where nobody has it. Ridiculous. I’m sure Sam Ersson will be starting the third.
Third period
Highlight: Hey, Sean Couturier scored, and did it against a goalie! In the trashiest of garbage times, trailing 6-1 at home to the godawful Rangers, Coots put a puck behind Shesterkin for only his second goal in the last 36 games, and the first with a goaltender there to (potentially) stop it. So, good for him!
Final note: This team is just so wildly inconsistent, any strong stretch of games, or any string of wins they’re able to put together are always negated with an embarrassing performance. It happened last week against Utah, and again tonight against the worst team in the conference. They make it really tough to see the light sometimes.