Carter Hart was up to the task yet again as he led the Flyers to victory in the opening game of their first round series.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens met this evening for the opening game of their first round series. There were a few changes in the Flyers lineup.
Jakub Voracek returned to the ice after missing the final round robin game. Instead of heading back to the top line, he started the game on the third line. Connor Bunnaman would come out of the lineup.
This allowed Joel Farabee to start the game on the top line once again. Shayne Gostisbehere also remained in the lineup. It was a secret all the way up until game time as both he and Robert Hagg skated during warmups. It is clear Vigneault is taking his quiet lineup decisions seriously.
There was a quick pace to start this game. Both teams seemed to have their legs under them right away. The Flyers got an early chance as Kevin Hayes and Travis Konecny came in on a 2-on-1. Hayes tried to wait out the diving defensemen but ran out of space as he tried to center it in front anyway.
The Flyers continued to pepper shots in on Carey Price. Ivan Provorov stepped up in the play and almost beat him in front. Sean Couturier also had a few high-quality chances.
Joel Armia also looked strong early on as a bounce pass off the boards sent him in on Carter Hart. The young goaltender easily pushed the puck aside.
The Flyers were given the first power play chance of the game. They came into the game 0-11 on the man advantage thus far. And they finally cashed in. After some pressure in the zone, Ivan Provorov blasted a shot from the point that found its way in. It may have directed in off of Paul Byron.
Upon later review, the goal was deemed to be tipped in by Voracek.
A double-screen by Couturier and Voracek helped lead to some confusion in front as well. Hart wasn’t tested much on the other end. In fact, he went a lengthy amount of time without facing a shot. And when he finally did, it was a tester. A turnover from Matt Niskanen went right to the stick of Artturi Lehkonen. Hart was strong in stopping the chance.
Montreal came on late in the period as they had their own extended time in the zone. They put a lot of pressure on the Flyers defense to try and clear the puck out. There was even more tense moments as the clock ticked down. Konecny and Jesperi Kotkaniemi took matching minors to end the period.
The Flyers were extremely sloppy to begin the second period. Turnovers in their own zone forced Hart to have to be ready at a moments notice. The Canadiens had a 5-0 shot advantage not even four minutes into the period.
One of the most dangerous chance came when Lehkonen had a chance all alone in the zone. With no one in or even around him, he lost an edge and wiped out on his way towards Hart. Montreal continued to apply pressure as the Flyers seemed to make mistake after mistake with the puck.
Konecny, as he often does, set up a great chance in front as the second line continued their sharp play. With Price down and out, Hayes found Scott Laughton all alone in the middle. Laughton wound up despite being a few feet from the net. Somehow, Price found his way to get his stick on the shot.
It was turning into quite the goaltending battle as we all expected it to be. Montreal would finally break through Hart on their first power play late in the second.
A shot by Shea Weber could not be handled by Hart as he gave up a big rebound. A fight in front ended with Weber pinching in and tapping it in the open net.
The Flyers answered right back as Farabee grabbed his second career playoff goal. Travis Sanheim fired it from the point where Farabee tipped it in on Price. He grabbed the rebound and potted it into the empty side of the net. The game was tied for just 16 seconds.
So despite the Canadiens dominating most of the period and firing plenty of shots in the last thirty seconds, the Flyers ended the second period with the lead. They were outshot 17-6 in the period.
The Flyers came out strong with back to back solid shifts from the Couturier and Hayes lines. They were back to their strong forechecking selves to start the third.
Things got chippy once again midway through as Max Domi got tangled up with Farabee. And despite his lack of engagement, Farabee was sent to the box with Domi. Another call put the Flyers on a 4-on-3. The power play had good movement but couldn’t get the much needed insurance goal.
Nate Thompson had the chance to put the Flyers up by two with about five and a half left. His tip-in went just wide of the net despite it being wide open. He hurried to deflect the pass from Laughton even with Price being turned and nowhere near the puck.
The Canadiens got Price to the bench with 1:20 remaining in the third period. Konecny had a shot at the empty net but Weber stretched out to block it with his skate.
Hart once again was strong as the Canadiens pressed to get the tying goal in the last minute of the period.
Nick Suzuki blasted one that rang off the crossbar with about 26 seconds left. But the Canadiens could not get the equalizer as the Flyers took the opening game of the series.
It’s the first time the Flyers have a series lead since 2012. They’ll look to go up 2-0 when the two teams face off again on Friday.