As has happened in too many games this year, the Flyers jumped off to an early lead only to see it fall away. The Toronto Maple Leafs built up a huge, seemingly insurmountable lead, but thanks to goals by Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, the Flyers cut that lead to just one goal. Despite several attempts at the end, the Leafs took the contest, 4-3.
Tony DeAngelo scored his fifth goal of the year on a rare power play goal in the first. With the Flyers on the power play, DeAngelo fired a shot toward the net while Frost and James van Riemsdyk provided adequate screens in front of Ilya Samsonov. Kevin Hayes picked up an assist along with JVR.
But in the second period, the Leafs came roaring back. At 16:50, Calle Jarnkrok deflected a shot by Mitch Marner. Carter Hart was sliding over to the left, but the deflection sent the puck careening in the other direction in which Hart had no chance to defend. Almost three minutes later, Rasmus Ristolainen was called for holding. Immediately on the power play, Marner powered a slapshot that flew through traffic, off Hart’s back leg, and into the net to give the Leafs a two-goal lead.
Flyers fall short to the Maple Leafs 4-3
The Leafs didn’t relent to start the third either. The final frame was kicked off with a goal just 33 seconds into the period. Michael Bunting was standing a few feet in front of the net, but everyone was watching the great Austin Matthews. Matthews faked a shot, and passed it to Bunting, who fired it in past a diving Hart.
After a goal by William Nylander gave Toronto a three-goal lead, the Flyers began to find the back of the net. Frost took the puck and skated down the length of the ice and slammed it home through the five-hole for a goal just 20 seconds after Nylander’s score. Eighty seconds later, Travis Konecny intercepted a pass and traveled down the right side of the ice. He passed it to Joel Farabee who was cutting across the center. TK passed it to Farabee who scored his first goal in a month.
With the Flyers down by just one, Coach John Tortorella pulled Hart. Hart had made 30 saves on the 34 shots taken by Toronto. In the final minute, Frost, Konecny, and Hayes peppered Samsonov with plenty of shots, but none would go on. Overall, Samsonov had faced just 19 shots and blocked 16 of them.
And while the outcome wasn’t what was desired, the game had a few bright points. Farabee ended his goalless streak. Frost now has goals in three straight games. Hayes had his first point since being benched. DeAngelo has his first goal since being benched as well.
Next up is the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.