Fightin’ Flyers Fall to Predators in Overtime
The Flyers engaged in a few fisticuffs on Saturday afternoon, but it would not be enough. In their second straight game, the Flyers went to overtime with the Nashville Predators. However, Matt Duchene scored just 36 seconds into the extra frame to down Philadelphia 2-1.
Carter Hart was again strong, stopping 23 of 25 shots. His counterpart, Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros, went 23 for 24.
Outside of a Cam York penalty, the game was penalty free. Well, penalty free if you discount the fighting. Nicolas Deslauriers tangled with Tanner Jeannot just 13 seconds into the second period. Later on, Joel Farabee, not known for being a fighter, engaged with Juuso Parssinen.
Juuso Parssinen vs Joel Farabee from the Nashville Predators at Philadelphia Flyers game on Feb 11, 2023 https://t.co/JEU3CbQHMD
— hockeyfights (@hockeyfights) February 11, 2023
Nashville got on the boards first thanks to former Hurricane Nino Niederreiter in the second period, a little over a minute after the Deslauriers-Jeannot scrum. Cody Glass took advantage of a turnover in the Flyers end and pushed the puck up the boards to Duchene. Duchene fired a shot off Hart, but Niederreiter was there to grab the rebound and squirt it through.
The Predators would not have the lead for very long. Kevin Hayes, the Flyers All-Star who’s been trying to put the team on his back, scored his second goal in as many games. About halfway through the second period, Patrick Brown was fighting for the puck along the boards. The puck squirted away to Farabee who shoveled it over to Hayes. Hayes skated up, one-on-one with Saros and successfully juked Saros away from the net to put the puck into the right corner to tie it up.
The score remained tied until Duchene struck at the beginning of the overtime period. Ryan Johansen received the puck from a pass from Roman Josi. Johansen skated the length of the ice, gaining the full attention of Hart. Johansen then center passed it to Duchene who ripped a one-timer right past York’s skates and right in Hart’s five-hole.
With the loss, the Flyers have now lost eight of the ten games that have gone into overtime this season. While it is nice to get the point, it would’ve been nice to have gained two points.
It has to be a quick turnaround for the Flyers as they will have to put this one in their rearview mirrors. They will play an early afternoon game tomorrow against the Seattle Kraken; their last in this four game homestand.