The Philadelphia Flyers (29-23-11) were dominated on home ice by the New York Rangers (25-30-8) on Monday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, losing 6-2.
Noah Laba, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, Gaber Perrault, and Tye Kartye all scored for the Rangers. Matvei Michkov and Sean Couturier scored for the Flyers.
It was domination from the start for the Rangers. The Flyers struggled defensively, but also could not find a way to beat Igor Shesterkin, despite tallying 34 shots on goal. It was an all-around bad game from Philadelphia.
Here is how we got to the final score.
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Rangers pull ahead early
It did not take long for the Rangers to take the lead on Monday. In fact, it took 1:04 into the game. Matthew Robertson (8) sent a blast from the point into heavy traffic in front. Dan Vladar was able to stop the shot with his glove, but he could not hold on, leaving the loose puck for Noah Laba (7) to bury the second-chance effort.
After the Laba goal, Vladar settled in and denied the next few Ranger chances.
Travis Konecny had a chance to even the score at 1, but was tripped up in front and could not get the shot off. There was no call, and play continued on at event strength.
In the second half of the period, both Alex Bump and Owen Tippett had spectacular scoring chances but could not get it past Igor Shesterkin.
Instead, it was the Rangers who struck again. Mika Zibanejad sent the puck down the ice, and Gabe Perrault tied up Jamie Drysdale along the boards, allowing Alexis Lafeneire (24) to get the puck to Zibanejad (26) alone in the slot for the score. It looked like Denver Barkey misread the play, which led to the grade-A chance for the known Flyers killer.
In the moments following the goal, the Rangers were awarded a power play following a Trevor Zegras holding penalty. The Flyers’ penalty kill killed the penalty off successfully, and right as the Rangers’ power play ended, Philadelphia was on the power play following a Vlad Gavrikov cross-check.
The Flyers’ power play did not last the entire 2 minutes following Alex Bump’s first NHL penalty, a high stick.
Alexif Lafreniere (15) scored on the Rangers’ man-advantage, and the Rangers took the 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
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Michkov scores, but the Rangers add on three more
Early in the second period, Owen Tippett displayed his speed, using a burst to spring himself on a breakaway between two defensemen. Unfortunately for Tippett, Shesterkin made the stop and kept the Flyers off the board early in the second period.
A few minutes later, the Flyers had what felt like a desperation time power play early in the second period following an Adam Fox delay of game penalty. Matvei Michkov (16) was aggressive in front of the net and eventually snuck the puck past Shesterkin. Jamie Drysdale (20) and Trevor Zegras (31) picked up the assists.
The Flyers were finally on the board, making it a 3-1 game.
Following the Flyers’ power play, Bump had a pair of great chances, but neither would go.
A holding penalty called on Travis Konecny put the Rangers back on the power play. This time, it took them just 30 seconds to score. Gabe Perrault (6) collected the rebound from the Vincent Trocheck (30) shot and scored the second-chance goal, giving the Rangers their three-goal lead back, 4-1.
Things settled back down for a little over 10 minutes, but the wheels completely fell off for the Flyers in the final two minutes.
A Cam York tripping penalty put the Rangers back on the power play, and Zibanejad (27) scored his second of the game rather quickly.
Following the power-play goal, Vladislav Gavrikov (15) sent a shot from the blueline into traffic that got tipped past Vladar by Tye Kartye (4), giving the Rangers the 6-1 advantage headed into the second break.
Flyers score, but it’s nowhere near enough
Unsurprisingly, Sam Ersson replaced Vladar to start the third period, so his night ended after giving up 6 goals on 24 shots. I don’t think you can hang all of the goals on Vladar.
Just a minute into the period, the Flyers had their third power-play chance after Braden Schneider got called for holding. Just as you would have expected, the Flyers did not score.
The Flyers settled down defensively and really held the Rangers’ attack to a minimum. Sam Ersson kept a clean sheet in the frame.
Unfortunately for the Flyers, of their 12 shots in the period, they could only get one past Shesterkin. Nikita Grebenkin (10) sent a slick pass from behind the goal line to Sean Couturier (7), who buried the shot from the slot for the only score of the third period. Luke Glendening (5) picked up his point as a Flyer.
Shesterkin stopped the other 11, and the Rangers leave Philadelphia with a 6-2 win and the season series win.
What’s next for the Flyers
The Flyers will remain at home when they host the Washington Capitals on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m EST at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
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