GIF Rewind: Flyers booed off ice; Sean Couturier’s two late goals not enough

The Philadelphia Flyers came up short. Again.

The Flyers fell into a 4-1 deficit with 26 seconds remaining in the second period. The Flyers were then booed off the ice. Sean Couturier scored twice in the third period, including once with the goalie pulled, to make it a 4-3 final.

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First period

The Flyers took an early penalty with Justin Braun called for interference just 30 seconds into the game. They were able to kill it off, though, with the Devils only getting one shot on goal.

Braun turned things around quickly a few minutes later. He chipped the puck up the wall in a good clearing attempt, but Kevin Hayes couldn’t corral the puck. The Devils had an opportunity in front, but Braun slid to take away the chance.

The fourth line of Michael Raffl, Nolan Patrick, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel has been effective, and NAK used all of his assets here.

Strong shift for the fourth line, particularly Aube-Kubel. He used his assets to body a man in the defensive zone then stole a clearing attempt to keep the cycle going at the other end.

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 23, 2021

The Devils rang a shot off iron just over six minutes into the game, and then they scored right before the midway mark of the period.

Philippe Myers got caught, Travis Konecny didn’t mark his man –– the eventual goalscorer –– and Erik Gustafsson was left on an Island.

The Devils had a 1-0 lead, but it didn’t last for too long.

Jakub Voracek drew an interference penalty just over two minutes later and the Flyers went to work on the power play.

Patrick won a battle, the Flyers got the puck around, and Voracek’s shot created a rebound that Farabee was able to slide home.

He whiffed a few times, but it still counts.

The Flyers had quite a few failed odd-man rushes against the Islanders and that continued against the Devils. Sean Couturier and James van Riemsdyk couldn’t connect with around six minutes left in the period.

Unfortunately, the Devils kept coming.

Travis Sanheim got beat to the outside and was somehow called for holding.

He didn’t like the call.

And, of course, the Devils capitalized. A Hayes hand pass resulted in a turnover and Kyle Palmieri buried a one-timer with 5.6 seconds remaining.

The Flyers trailed 2-1 after one period of play. The Devils had 14-8 shots on goal advantage as well.

Second period

It didn’t get much better in the second period for the Flyers. They got an early power play and some good looks, but MacKenzie Blackwood stood tall.

Sanheim then took another penalty. The Devils didn’t create much offense, though. It was actually the Flyers who had the best scoring chance on a 2-on-1 rush, but Couturier hit the post.

Lindblom was penalized shortly after that, and the Flyers had another shorthanded chance. Hayes’ breakaway shot missed the net, however.

The Devils continued to be the better team in the second period and they finally capitalized.

Myers turned the puck over and Gustafsson was caught on the other side of the ice, leaving the slot open for Yegor Sharangovich.

That made it a 3-1 game midway through the period.

The Flyers got a power-play chance with just over five minutes to go in the frame, but it seemed like they spent more time in their own zone than the Devils’.

Then, when it looked like a 3-1 deficit after two periods was going to be bad enough, the Devils scored again.

New Jersey scored with 5.6 seconds left in the first period and 23.4 seconds left in the second period. Those are back-breaking goals.

The Flyers got booed off the ice.

Flyers get booed off the ice trailing 4-1 to the Devils after two periods of play. pic.twitter.com/CLujffSKFz

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 24, 2021

The Devils led 4-1 on the scoreboard and 25-17 in shots on goal after two periods of play.

Third period

Alain Vigneault juggled the lines for the third period.

These appear to be the Flyers lines to start the third period:

25 – 14 – 11
28 – 13 – 86
23 – 19 – 93
12 – 21 – 62

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) March 24, 2021

The Flyers at least had some life in the first period. They had some chances in the second period.

In the third period, the Flyers’ fatigue showed as the Devils completely dominated the frame. They were happy to get pucks in deep, settle into their trap, and force the Flyers to dump it in. Then, the Devils would clear the zone and start it all over again.

There was at least one good rush, though.

Couturier and Konecny executed a give-and-go to get the Flyers back within two goals.

It gave the Flyers a little bit of life.

Then, with the goalie pulled, Couturier scored again to make it a one-goal game.

Unfortunately, it was too little, too late for the Flyers. They couldn’t find the equalizer and lost 4-3.

Once again, the Flyers got booed off the ice.

The Flyers needed to make the most of the few chances they had in the first two periods. Zajac’s last-minute goal in the second period made the hurdle a bit too high to get over for the Flyers.