Flyers score a power-play goal in Game 2, but ‘need a little more execution’ to close gap on Hurricanes
The Flyers, who had the league's worst power play in the regular season, got some help from special teams early in Game 2. But they only converted on one of their chances,
The Flyers cashed in on just one of their seven power play chances against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen in Game 2 on Monday.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
RALEIGH, N.C. ― During the regular season, an announcement that the Flyers were going on the power play was met with more apathy than excitement.
The Flyers had the league’s worst power play efficiency (15.7%) in the regular season, and it connected just twice on 17 opportunities (11.7%) against Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs.
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So it was with some measure of shock and surprise that the Flyers actually opened the scoring with a goal on their first power play, just over four minutes into Monday’s 3-2 overtime loss against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of their second-round series.
Jamie Drysdale picked up a loose puck in the slot and wristed it right past Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen for the first goal of the game, and Carolina’s first deficit of the series.
Monday’s game was heavy on special teams opportunities. The Flyers got seven cracks at the power play, including one in overtime, and the Hurricanes got six and also scored on their first chance.
“The first few, I thought we actually had a handful of good looks, and then we maybe got away from the game plan a little bit,” Drysdale said. “They adjusted, for sure, as well. I think it’s just, throughout a series, same team, same kill, you’ve just got to keep adjusting and reacting. We can definitely be better.”
Hurricanes left wing Mark Jankowski (left) and Flyers center Sean Couturier collide in the first period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
The puck gets by Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen in the first period on a shot by Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale (not pictured).Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale (right) celebrates his goal with teamamate center Trevor Zegras (left) in the first period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers center Sean Couturier celebrates his first period goal with Flyers center Luke Glendening.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers right wing Carl Grundstrom passes the puck by Hurricanes left wing William Carrier (center) and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere in the first period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Fans react behind Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar after he gave up a first period power play goal.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen stops a shot by Flyers center Denver Barkey in the first period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers right wing Carl Grundstrom (left) collides with Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven during the first period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen stops a shot by Flyers center Sean Couturier as Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (right) defends in the first period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar makes a save against the Hurricanes in the second period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen checks Hurricanes center Jordan Staal in the second period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (right) trips Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis in the second period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar stops a shot by Hurricanes left wing Eric Robinson (left) in the second period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (left) watches Hurricanes left wing Nikolaj Ehlers in the second period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (right) hits Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake in the second period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar loses his helmet while stopping the puck.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurricanes left wing Mark Jankowski (right) shots wide of Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar in the second period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet reacts in the third period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven crashes into Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar in the third period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar slashes Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (right) with his stick third period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen shoves Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim in the third period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho falls into Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar as defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (left) loses his balance in third period.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall finds the puck to score the game-winning goal against Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar in overtime in Game 2.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall celebrates his game-winning goal against the Flyers in overtime.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers center Denver Barkey, defenseman Cam York and goaltender Dan Vladar react after Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall scores the game-winning goal in overtime.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar pauses in the net after giving up the game-winning goal to Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall in overtime in Game 2.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
The extremely high number of penalty minutes on both sides knocked the Flyers off their rhythm a bit, Travis Sanheim said. It’s no coincidence that the Flyers played their best five-on-five period of the game in overtime, when there was just the one penalty.
But the Flyers also managed just three shots on the six power plays in regulation, one of them being the goal. On their final power play in overtime, they got four shots on net, but still failed to score.
“I don’t know the answer,” coach Rick Tocchet said of the Flyers’ power-play woes. “You’ve got to make the play. We had three times where we had, if we just get it over, the guy gets a tap-in. … It was good, I thought, the first couple early, and I thought we had some looks there, but we had a couple times where we passed up a shot, but that’s just confidence.”
The Flyers haven’t had much reason to be confident in their power play this season. To take the next step in closing the gap with teams like Carolina, the power play will need to improve.
But the Hurricanes, famous for their shot-suppressing defensive system, also just have a really good penalty kill. Carolina had the 11th-ranked penalty kill in the regular season, killing 80.5% of power plays. They found another level in the postseason, killing 95.2% of the Senators’ power plays in the first round (20 of 21).
“They’re a great kill over there, but I thought we had a lot of momentum on our power play, too,” Travis Konecny said. “I mean, we had a goal. It wasn’t all bad. They’re going to make some good plays. I thought we moved it around, [need a] little more execution and get a few more looks, but overall, I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
