The Flyers won the season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night, but there is one statistic that the Flyers didn’t do well on.
The Flyers were able to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night with a final score of 6 -3. Despite the score line, the Penguins dominated full strength corsi throughout the night.
Corsi is a statistic that is used in the NHL specifically to measure shot attempt differential during even strength play.
First Period
Flyers CF:15 CA:20 CF% 42.86
The first period was arguably the worst period for the Flyers in terms of corsi. Neither team was dominant, but the Penguins did have a couple rounds of extended pressure. The Flyers were able to escape the period with a 2-1 lead on the strength of 2 power play goals.
Second Period
Flyers CF:11 CA:13 CF% 45.83
The Flyers lead the game entering this period.
The Flyers seemed struggle when the Tanev-Jankowski-McCann line was on the ice, However, with the exception of the Penguins first goal, a Carter Hart mistake, the chances did not seem overly dangerous. The Flyers also had their struggles with the Crosby-Guentzel-Rodrigues line. Though the Penguins seemed to carry the play, they were not dominant, with the only real danger coming directly from Crosby’s efforts.
Third Period
Flyers CF:11 CA:15 CF% 42.31
The Flyers weakest corsi period was their strongest in goal differential outscoring the Pens 3-1. After regaining the lead on Raffl’s goal they stopped their aggressive forechecking. Philadelphia was able to counter attack with the Penguins activating defensemen who got caught up ice.
After Hayes scored goal number six, the game was effectively over The Penguins were able to generate some isolated dangerous chances, but it amounted to very little sustained pressure.
Corsi Winner
PIT Mark Jankowski: CF% 82.35 % Goals For (GF):2 Goals Against (GA):1
Jankowski over 90 % most of his nine 5v5 minutes against Sean Couturier’s line and Nolan Patrick’s line. This was an extremely good performance by Jankowski, as he allowed only an even strength goal against Philadelphia’s most dangerous center.
Corsi Loser(s)
Scott Laughton/Aube-Kubel: 23.08% GF:1 GA:0
Despite a low corsi%, line mates Laughton and Aube-Kubel both finished with a positive goal differential while spending four and a half of their roughly 11 5v5 minutes against Crosby’s line, and another three and a half minutes against Malkin. Over 70% of the their 5v5 time on ice was spent against the Pen’s top two lines.
Conclusion CF Flyers CF:37 CA:48 CF% 43.53
Philly ended up ending the night with a CF % of 43.53%.
In reality, the guys in orange dismantled the Penguins in a complete team effort. In fact, an argument can be made that there was only a single goal that the Penguins earned. Further Laughton’s line spent the evening matched up against two centers that have dominated hockey for the last decade.
They did not concede a 5v5 goal, against Pittsburgh’s dynamic duo and even managed send a shot home for the good guys. The thought is most fans would consider it a successful night.
The two teams meet again on Friday night.