The Flyers Finally Won A Hockey Game Again. Wooo. Celebrate Good Times!
Final Score: Flyers 3, Islanders 2 (OT) | (23-19-6)
The Flyers went into their bye week last weekend on the back of two of the most disgusting losses of the season. 2 of the most gutless performances they’ve put together all season. Saturday was a 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins where they had a complete meltdown in the 2nd period. And Sunday was a 5-0 loss to the Washington Capitals where the meltdown didn’t come until the 3rd period but holy shit did they crash and burn when it hit. So then they had Monday-Friday off last week due to the league’s new mandated 5-day bye week for every team. You’d think those 5 days would be a good time for Ron Hextall and Dave Hakstol to look at this team, realize that some serious adjustments need to be made if they’re going to right this ship, and make some moves. While there’s a chance they used last week to talk to other teams about potential trades as we get closer to the deadline, no immediate move was made on the trade front. While you’d think the team would call up some of the stars that have been performing well in Lehigh Valley, no call up was made either. Instead, they just said “we have to be better” and put out the exact some lineup on Saturday night against the Devils. And they got smoked 4-1. Goddamn this team straight to hell.
And then last night looked like it was going to be the exact same thing. Sure, the Flyers were getting the better chances throughout the beginning of the game. Sure, they were dominating in shots and dominating the projected goal totals. But they couldn’t find a way to get the puck in the back of the net. Something that they’ve been struggling with for a while now. And the Islanders were able to jump out to a quick lead. And here’s a goal that I have a serious issue with.
People are going to jump on MacDonald for the turnover here. Which they shouldn’t because really it was Voracek’s fault this puck didn’t keep going the Flyers way. But my biggest issue here? Try to watch Claude Giroux in this clip. In case you don’t notice him, he wears #28 and has the “C” on his jersey. Now if you look closely, you see him turn to go back into the zone when he sees the turnover happen. He then hits the blueline and he doesn’t take a single stride since that point. Giroux is the captain of a team who is in free fall mode right now. You’d think he’d have a little more snarl to his game right now than to be half assing back checks out there. But no. Mason is forced to make a huge save on a breakaway, be tasked with keeping the puck out of the net when no Flyers defensemen can clear the puck, make another save, all before Nick Leddy is there to finally put it in for the Islanders. All while Giroux is just gliding out there like he’s on the rink at Rockefeller Center. Yes, he redeemed himself a little in the overtime period but somebody needs to figure out what’s wrong with Claude Giroux because I’m starting to get worried.
Now let’s move on to the “No Goal” real quick because I still have no idea what the hell happened on this call.
No unless you are Hellen Keller, you can both see and hear the puck cross the goal line before the whistle is blown here. It’s a wild sequence for sure, but the puck is in the back of the net and then the whistle comes in to stop the play. By all means, that should be a goal. But the NHL has so many dumb little rules and for most of us out there, we were introduced to a new one last night. Because here’s the explanation on the “no goal” call here via NHL.com
“At 1:10 of the second period of the Flyers/Islanders game, the Situation Room initiated a video review because the puck entered the New York net. The referee informed the Situation Room that he was blowing his whistle to stop play before the puck crossed the goal line. According to Rule 78.5, apparent goals shall be disallowed “when the Referee deems the play has been stopped, even if he had not physically had the opportunity to stop play by blowing his whistle.” This is not a reviewable play therefore the referee’s call on the ice stands – no goal Philadelphia.”
Well now that’s just rich. He THOUGHT about blowing the whistle earlier, but just never got around to it. It just took too long for his little pea brain to register the thought and make his body act upon it. But no worries, guys. It’s the thought that counts and now we have no goal. Screw that whole, “keep playing until you hear the whistle” nonsense that coaches drill into kids from the time they’re 5-years-old. Just keep playing until you think the referee is about to think about blowing his whistle. What a dumb piece of shit rule that is. And instead of tying the game up at 1-1, the Islanders scored just a few minutes later to make it 2-0. Unreal.
But then the Wayne Train pulled into the station and it was an express line to Comeback City.
Hmm. That’s funny. The puck was in the back of the net before a whistle was blown and yet it still counted as a goal? I don’t know what kind of a stunt the NHL is trying to pull here but I don’t like it one bit.
And then Ivan Ooze Provorov netted his 4th of the season to start off the 3rd period to tie things up at 2.
Nice little play by Brayden Schenn to set it all up. And then that patience from Ivan Provorov is next level.
2-2 and we’re heading to overtime. The first time the Flyers will get a point in 10 days. It may not have been pretty but even that’s reason enough to celebrate. And then in OT, it was a familiar duo connecting for the game winner.
Ghost to Giroux. Holy hell does it feel incredible to finally be able to say that again. Great play by Ghost to stick with his rebound and immediately turn on the kill switch while he had Greiss out of position. He definitely earned that fist pump. And then Claude probably won’t score much easier goals than that in his career but credit for getting himself in the perfect position for Ghost to find him.
FUCKIN’ RIGHT
Like I said. It wasn’t pretty. There’s still a ton of work to be done for this year’s Flyers team. There are still some moves that need to be made. Some call ups that should probably happen in the near future. Hopefully this game sparks them up a little bit and hopefully that goal gets Giroux out of his funk. That monkey on his back was the size of Chris Christie’s FUPA so thank god it’s gone now. Because when your team has been playing as poorly as the Flyers have been lately, you’ll take the 2 points any way you can get ‘em. All we can do now is just thank the Islanders for being in even more disarray than the Flyers. Really appreciate you, guys.