Bad 2nd Period Hurts The Flyers In Loss Vs The Lightning

The Philadelphia Flyers couldn’t make it two wins in a row Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1.

It was not the best start by either team to begin the game. The Flyers & Lightning combined for just three-shots in the first ten minutes of play.

Tampa Bay would strike first on the power-play late in the 1st period. The Flyers 111th penalty of the season – 3rd most in the NHL.

Playing from behind is nothing new to the Flyers this season. It was the 18th time this season Flyers have allowed the opening goal.

On Tuesday, the Flyers rebounded after giving up an early power-play goal by the New York Islanders. Ending their 10-game losing streak.

Tampa Bay would score twice in the 2nd period to make it 3-0. Steven Stamkos would get point #1000 on the Lightning’s second goal.

Egor Zamula, who remained in the lineup with Tony DeAngelo returning, made a critical mistake last in the 2nd period. A bad turnover resulted in a Lightning goal with just 3.4 seconds left.

Tonight’s game was less a result based on their play. But, more on an opposing team knowing how to win.

“A good team like that who knows how to win; they seize that,” John Tortorella said about the 2nd period. “Once they had us, they kept pushing and we just could not respond.”

Tortorella added “we just could not get our feet. It’s not a period that we scripted or wanted to play. We just didn’t have an answer tonight.”

Lightning Dominating 2nd Period

John Tortorella has been highly critical of his team when it comes to turning points in games. Whether it be special teams, bad penalties, not picking up coverage… Tortorella has not been shy to voice his opinion.

Tonight, it wasn’t just one of those frustrating small things that Tortorella hates. It was a whole period.

In the 2nd period, a period the Flyers have actually had good success in, was an absolute clinic by the Lightning. Controlling the play, pinning the Flyers in their own zone, and scoring two goals to take a 3-0 lead.

While all that probably did not bother John Tortorella too much, a critical turnover by Egor Zamula was the icing on the cake. Resulting in a Lightning goal with just 3.4 seconds left.

DeAngelo & Konecny Return

Tony DeAngelo, who missed Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury, returned to the lineup. Justin Braun was a healthy scratch.

DeAngelo played 21:31 and had an assist on the Flyers lone goal.

Travis Konecny, who has missed the last six games with an upper-body injury, returned to the lineup. Kieffer Bellows was waived to make room for Konecny on the roster.

Konecny played 15:34 and had the Flyers lone goal.

Loose Pucks…

1. Former Flyer Pierre-Edouard Bellemare skated in his 609th career NHL game tonight. Breaking the NHL record – 608-games – for most games played by a French born player. A cool moment for Bellemare against the team in which he made his NHL debut with in 2014.
2. Steven Stamkos needed one-point for career point #1000. Stamkos thought that point came in the 1st period before Carter Hart robbed Alex Killorn. But, in the 2nd period, Stamkos would get point 1000 to become the 95th player in NHL history to score 1000-points.
3. Morgan Frost played in his 100th career game in the NHL. Frost has 10-goals & 18-assists in his NHL career.
4. The Flyers have now lost 7-straight games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Philadelphia.
5. Kieffer Bellows, who the Flyers claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders, was placed on waivers today. Bellows was waived to activate Travis Konecny from the IR.

Result : Lightning 4 – Flyers 1 , LOSS

Record :   8 – 11 – 5

Next Game : Saturday 12/3 , New Jersey Devils , Philadelphia PA , 7:00pm

PHOTO CREDIT: Mitchell Leff – Getty Images