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Corsi Analysis: Flyers Dominate Chances Despite Poor Play Against Sabres

By Walt Gebelein

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 09: Nolan Patrick #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers scores during a penalty shootout against the Buffalo Sabres at Wells Fargo Center on March 09, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 09: Nolan Patrick #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers scores during a penalty shootout against the Buffalo Sabres at Wells Fargo Center on March 09, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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The Flyers posted huge possession metrics against a mightily struggling Sabres team, but their play in the defensive end nearly cost them a victory.

First Period

CF:21 CA:10 CF% 67.74%  ZENO:2

The Flyers dominated scoring chances in the first period against the Sabres, but still ended the period down 3 to 1. They were able to avoid the turnovers that have plagued them over the last week, but instead failed to cover Sabres players in the slot.

The Sabres would get eight shots in the period, and score on three of them, all of them not further than 10 feet from the goal.

The Flyers, meanwhile, would collect 21 chances, but only 9 shots. They just seemed unable to convert missing wide, hitting posts or the Sabres were able block shots.

Second Period

CF: 17 CA:8 CF%: 68.00 ZENO:0

A complete effort in the second period from the Flyers allowed them to craw back into the game. The team was much better with closing down players in high danger areas, the only goal conceded was a deflected shot from below the faceoff dot.

The Flyers offense was able to better avoid the Sabres’ tenacious shot blocking and convert the seventeen chances into nine shots. The team would end the period down by a goal.

Third Period

CF:20 CA:11 CF% 64.52 ZENO:2

The tide shifted to favor the Flyers, as the team continued to pile up chances while covering well enough defensively to silence the Sabres offense. It would take a power play goal for the Flyers to pull even, but they were able to carry play throughout the period

Corsi Winner

PHI D Erik Gustafsson CF:12 CA:2 CF%:85.71

Gustafsson had one of his better games of the season, though he did not pick up any points. Gustafsson managed to avoid critical turnovers in his own end, and that may be the most telling indicator to rate his play. The less Gustafsson turns the puck over, the less he has to defend and that may be the difference between him being an effective player or a disaster waiting to happen.

Corsi Loser

BUF C Cody Eakin  CF:4 CA:26 CF%:13.33

Eakin had an ugly CF%, but only 10 of the 26 chances became shots, and none of those shots went in. Eakin’s possession numbers were weak across the board, but he racked up a 12-0 deficit against Nolan Patrick.  Eakin’s line was effectively an offensive no show for the Sabres.

Conclusion

CF:58 CA:29 CF%:66.67% ZENO:4

The Flyers defense has played loose this evening, much in the way they did in losses to the Pens and Caps. Because of this, a splendid offensive effort was almost for naught, with their porous defense nearly giving the game away in the first period.  Even with great possession numbers, it is hard to feel good about the Flyers effort, as the team proved that suspect defense can easily undermine even the best offensive effort.

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