The Philadelphia Flyers failed to harness any momentum from yesterday’s 7-5 win over the Minnesota Wild. Lose to the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 Sunday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
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It’s like a switch flipped!
In a matter of 24-hours, the Flyers looked like a completely different team. Reverting back to their lifeless selfs that scored just 1 goal in their first two home games of the season.
No forecheck… no structure… it was like the Flyers were the team who played at 7:00pm last night. Then took a 45-minute plane ride to Philadelphia arriving after 1:00am. Oh, wait… that was the Canadiens.
Nothing was going right for the Flyers until Travis Sanheim tried to provide a potential spark late in the 1st period.
Sanheim’s second goal of the season came after the Flyers capitalized on a neutral zone turnover by Montreal. Giving them some life after being down 1-0 and outshot 9-3 heading into the 1st intermission tied at 1-1.
Though, it was like a switch flipped again in the wrong direction in the 2nd period. Montreal would score three times – all three goals coming by the will of the Canadiens just wanting it more.
Brendan Gallagher redirected home a point shot with a Flyer draped on his back. Cole Caufield would score on the Canadiens man advantage – the Flyers produced just 1 shot on their two advantages before the goal. Jake Evans fired home a broken stick, cross-ice pass that not one Flyers tried to stop.
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John Tortorella preached after most of the games during their six game losing streak that their play hasn’t been bad. But, it’s the little things – penalties, neutral zone play, checking – that has been off.
Tonight, those little things, roared their ugly head.
“Yeah, it’s frustrating” Scott Laughton responded when asked about the Flyers disconnect in play to start the season. “We got to figure it out here quickly.”
Aleksei Kolosov did his best in his NHL debut to keep the Flyers in the game. But, much like his counterpart – Ivan Fedotov – had to deal with his fair share of bad luck.
The lone goal Kolosov had any chance on was Cole Caufield’s power-play goal in the 2nd period. A shot that beat him near post under the blocker.
Kolosov finished the night with 20 saves on 24 Canadiens shots.
The Flyers did try to flip the switch back into their direction late in the 3rd period. Two goals by Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny with under 2:12 left made this game a lot closer than it looked.
The Flyers fall to 2-6-1 on the season. Next up, the Boston Bruins Tuesday night at TD Garden at 7:00pm.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mitchell Leff – Getty Images
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