The Flyers failed to close the series out against Montreal despite a strong game from Jakub Voracek.
As they had in game’s past, Montreal controlled the pace to begin the game. They spent the first 40+ seconds in the offensive zone. Matching up the Flyers fourth line to the Canadiens top line might not be the best idea.
Neither is the Flyers going on the power play. They got an early chance when Ben Chiarot was called for goaltender interference. The group can now add a shot handed goal to its woes. A simple dump in from Xavier Ouellet bounced off the boards and right to Joel Armia.
With no Flyer quick to jump on the puck, Armia was able to find space under the arm of Hart. It was only the second time the Flyers have given up the first goal while in Toronto. It was also the first short handed goal they’ve allowed.
This is where the power play not clicking comes back to haunt them. The Flyers did stabilize the play after allowing the goal. They would draw another penalty and get some good looks, but the play was evened up after a high-sticking double minor was tossed out.
Kevin Hayes had a short handed chance of his own when the puck was banked off the boards. He had been targeting the glove hand of Price, but the Montreal goaltender looked calm and steady to stop that one.
It was looking like this was going to be one of those games where Price would be a brick wall in net. And that’s exactly what the Flyers didn’t want to happen with a chance to clinch.
While they did settle in, the Canadiens still held the lead going into the first intermission.
Afyer killing off their own penalty, the Flyers went to a five minute power play. Jesperi Kotkaniemi was served with a major and game misconduct for boarding Travis Sanheim. The unit went right to work and grabbed a goal within the first minute.
Jakub Voracek took the cross-ice feed from Claude Giroux and one-timed it past Price. It may have deflected off Chiarot on the way in. It wasn’t his last goal as he scored his second of the night with eight seconds remaining on the power play.
Looking for Couturier in front, the pass again deflected off the skate of Chiarot on the way in. And just like that, the Flyers jumped to a 2-1 lead. It didn’t last long, though.
The Canadiens had a jump in their step after the power play ended. Armia decided what Voracek could do, he could do better. He threw a tough angle shot from almost behind the net. It found just enough space over the shoulder of Hart.
Montreal wasn’t done yet. Philippe Myers took a double-minor for high sticking. Brendan Gallagher finally grabbed his first goal of the series after almost 40 shots on net. He batted it out of mid-air directly in front of Hart.
The Flyers managed to kill off the second half of the penalty. But the momentum was already long gone by then. It looked like Nick Suzuki had increased the lead. However, Jonathan Drouin beat the puck in. It was a huge break for the Flyers. Hart was on his way to being pulled if the goal had counted.
The Flyers needed one more comeback as they entered the third period down by one goal. They got on the forecheck and created heavy pressure in the offensive zone. But Price continued to shut down any chance that came close to him.
Montreal gave them chances to come back in with back to back penalties. And the Flyers made them pay on the second one. Voracek continued to have the hot hand as he took the puck along the boards and passed it in front. Joel Farabee put his stick out and deflected it past Price.
But the Canadiens answered right back, just 22 seconds later. Drouin picked off the pass behind the net and Suzuki made the move in front on Hart. This time, the goal counted.
The Flyers were forced to go to the empty net with under a minute and a half to go. They took a moment to call the timeout with 41.8 seconds to go.
Phillip Danault hit the empty net as Montreal wasn’t ready to go home just yet. The two teams with come back on Friday as the Flyers will have another chance to eliminate the Canadiens.