The Philadelphia Flyers hoped to break their four game losing streak as they returned home to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
After a shutout loss at the hands of the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers will once again look for their first win of the new year facing off against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Michal Neuvirth received the start from Interim Head Coach Scott Gordon and opposed Petr Mrazek. The former Flyers net-minder has a 6-8-2 record thus far, with a 2.59 Goals-Against Average and a .901 save percentage. Philadelphia needed to get their offense back on track after a rough couple of games in order to defeat their Metropolitan division foe.
Carolina had the shots-on-goal advantage early on in the first, leading eight to five. As the game went on, things started to get testy between the teams with Wayne Simmonds and Radko Gudas playing very physical for the Orange and Black. The game stayed scoreless at the end of one, with the Flyers playing some solid hockey against the Canes.
Dougie Hamilton changed that to start the second, as he scored his fourth of the year to score the game’s first goal. Former Flyer Justin Williams added to the lead minutes later on the power-play and Philadelphia found themselves facing a two goal deficit.
The Flyers had two power-play opportunities to try and even things up, but couldn’t capitalize on either with some ugly play on both man advantages. Teuvo Teravainen went on to score his ninth of the year on the power play and Carolina took a 3-0 lead into the third stanza.
Warren Foegele made it 4-0 early in the period. Simmonds finally gave the Flyers a response, scoring a goal on the man advantage to cut the Canes lead to three. Sean Couturier netted his 15th of the year soon after and suddenly Carolina just had a 4-2 advantage.
The Flyers found themselves another power-play goal in the form of James van Riemsdyk, cutting the Canes lead to just one goal. They finally showed some heart after showcasing nearly no effort in their last three contests and I loved every single part of it.
Carolina put that comeback to rest thanks to a two-on-one tally from Teravainen and they defeated Philadelphia 5-3 in regulation. If the Flyers had even a sub-par performance in-net, that fourth goal never happens and we’re talking about a completely different game.
The Flyers are now 15-19-4. Next game is Saturday vs the Flames.