Philadelphia Flyers

GIF Rewind: Flyers falter in third, lose in overtime after Oskar Lindblom scores again

Published

4 years ago

March 22, 2021

The Philadelphia Flyers welcomed the New York Islanders to town on Monday night. It was the third game of a three-game series against the Isles and the first game of a four-game homestand for the Flyers.

It was one of the better all-around games for the Flyers this month –– possibly this season –– but they couldn’t finish their chances. They outshot the Islanders 37-20 (37-16 in regulation) but only scored once.

First period

The Flyers started the game with some jump. They had a few shots on goal in the opening minute. They were getting pucks in deep, cycling them around to open ice, and not giving the Islanders much time or space.

Mat Barzal had one of the Islanders’ best early chances when he outraced the Flyers defensemen and Brian Elliott to the puck. Luckily, the Flyers got back and Barzal’s centering pass didn’t connect.

Not ideal pic.twitter.com/fBIGWRQcsV

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 22, 2021

Still, it could’ve been a disaster.

It didn’t stop the Flyers’ momentum, though. They kept pushing and Nolan Patrick was denied in front. There were a few good shifts in a row with the first line cycling for a shot on goal as well.

Outside of that Barzal chance above, it was all Flyers early on.

The Flyers are playing more physically and supporting the puck better early on tonight. They have the game's first eight shots, though the Islanders have had a few dangerous looks.

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 22, 2021

Jakub Voracek made a nice stretch pass from his own blue line across the ice to Oskar Lindblom at the Islanders’ blue line, but he couldn’t get a good shot off. It resulted in an offensive-zone faceoff, though.

The Islanders had a chance to grab some momentum after Travis Konecny was called for a roughing penalty.

However, the Flyers killed off the penalty with relative ease and after a short push back from the Islanders, they were back on their game.

Overpassing has been one of the Flyers’ issues this season and that was the case in the first period as well. On one notable rush into the zone, Scott Laughton tried to force a cross-ice pass that was intercepted and cleared.

The Flyers are trying to do too much on rushes into the zone. There have been multiple cross-ice passes broken up. They don't always need to shoot, but getting the puck on net or extending the zone time would be nice to see.

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 22, 2021

The Islanders got some offensive-zone pressure during a shift against the Flyers’ first line, but the Orange and Black survived it.

It looked like the Flyers were going to open the scoring on a rebound, but Konecny’s two tries were denied.

Barzal’s line was on the ice against the Flyers’ fourth line in the final minutes of the period and it felt like it may be another letdown. However, it was the Flyers who got the best scoring chance out of the sequence.

That was the second time in the period that Patrick was denied in front. Also, check out that pass by Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

The Flyers and Islanders were scoreless after one period of play, but it was a good period for Philly.

Unfortunately, they couldn't score, but that was a really good first period for the Flyers. They had plenty of offensive-zone time and outshot the Islanders 12-4 in the frame. They played a good tight-checking period to take away time and space from the Islanders and it showed.

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 22, 2021

At 5-on-5 play the Flyers had a 57.69% CF (15-11), outshot the Islanders 12-3, and out-chanced them 7-4, resulting in an 84.48% xGF in the first period.

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 22, 2021

Second period

The Flyers kept it up in the second period.

They got a power play just 17 seconds into the period and nearly scored on it, but a James van Riemsdyk deflection just missed. The Islanders also nearly scored on it, however, after a turnover by Erik Gustafsson.

Voracek and JVR had a two-on-one rush early in the period, but the pass couldn’t connect.

Sean Couturier had a rare lapse in the defensive zone with a failed clear, but Elliott erased it and covered up.

The second line then went to work in the offensive zone for a few chances.

Barzal nearly used his speed for another scoring chance, but Philippe Myers did a great job to get back and catch him.

Each team hit the post with a shot within a few minutes of each other. Oliver Wahlstrom hit the post in close, then Justin Braun’s long-range shot hit iron at the other end.

There was yet another odd-man rush situation for the Flyers, but Couturier’s two attempts were blocked.

Then, the Flyers finally got on the board.

Voracek worked hard to win a battle behind the net. He got the puck to Giroux, who turned and found Oskar Lindblom in front.

The Flyers had a 1-0 lead on Lindblom’s third goal in as many games.

The teams traded some good shifts after that, and for a short time it felt like the Islanders were going to tie it up. Little mistakes were adding up.

But they didn’t.

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead into the second intermission.

Another great period by the Flyers –– that's two in a row! They only scored once, but they heavily outshot the Islanders again. It won't matter unless they can close it out strong, however, and we already saw NYI erase a 3-0 deficit in the third period earlier this series.

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 23, 2021