PhHN Daily: Flyers Blanked; Pens on a Heater; Rantanen’s Return & More

The Philadelphia Flyers closed their homestand on Saturday with a 5-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. With the loss, the Flyers went 1-6-0 during the homestand, and dropped to 28-32-8 for the season. Philadelphia went 0-18 on their power play chances during the homestand–not the number you want to see.

On Sunday’s version of the Philly Hockey Now daily, we talk about Saturday’s game, a streaking team in the Metropolitan division, a star’s return to his former home, a late-night thriller, and a superstar returning to form.

Read more on the PhHN daily!

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Flyers Blanked, Lose to Canes 5-0

Last night was not a pretty game for the Philadelphia Flyers. Following one of the better games of this recent stretch, the Flyers were shut out on their home ice for the fourth time this season.

It is worth mentioning that there have been much worse games this season. Despite the scoreboard looking the way it does, it was not an overall terrible offensive effort. The Flyers had chances, they really did. Pytor Kochketov had a great game. Couple that with the fact that some Flyers just cannot catch a break, it is a recipe for disaster.

The Flyers forced the Hurricanes netminder to make 26 saves.

For the Flyers, Sam Ersson needs to be better. What seemed like could have been just a slight lag in what has been a generally solid year for the Flyers’ goalie, now seems more like a regression. Ersson has now put together a stretch of hockey that would have made sense last year, or even earlier this season.

Ersson had 25 saves on 30 attempts, a .833 save percentage. It’s not like he got any help. The defensive play in front of him all night did not make his life any easier. Plus, it’s not like they could win the game with no goals in the first place–the loss is not on Ersson.

However, if there was one key takeaway from Saturday’s loss, it’s that Ersson’s play has certainly regressed since the break.

The Flyers play next on Monday. They travel to Tampa to take on the Lightning for the second time in their last three games.

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Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Pittsburgh Penguins are on fire right now. With their 7-3 win over the New Jersey Devils, the Penguins have won four straight contests. Saturday, it was the Penguins’ third line and goaltender Tristan Jarry that led Pittsburgh to the win.

Now, the Penguins have jumped the Flyers in the standings. If the season ended today, the Flyers would have the best odds for the No. 6-overall draft selection.

Colorado Hockey Now: For the first time since being traded (twice), Mikko Rantanen will make his return to Colorado as the Dallas Stars are set to take on the Avalanche.

“I never wanted to leave. It wasn’t like I asked to leave,” Rantanen said. The trade to Carolina was one thing, but being traded to Dallas, a division rival of the Avalanche, probably complicates the emotions for Rantanen, his former teammates, and even the Avalanche fans who at first, wished him nothing but the best.

Vegas Hockey Now: The Golden Knights blew a late game lead to the Buffalo Sabres last night, falling 4-3 in the shootout.

It was looking like the game was all but over in regulation, but Rasmus Dahlin tied the game up at three with just 14 seconds left in the game. That came after Jack Eichel gave Vegas the lead with 2:33 to play. Tomas Hertl could have put the game away, but passed up on the empty net chance, keeping Buffalo alive–he’ll want that one back.

If you’re a fan of late game lead changes, that game was for you!

Vancouver Canucks: It looks like Elias Pettersson (the original one for VAN) is finally returing to the Elias Pettersson Caunuck and hockey fans alike have grown acustomed to. This season has been a struggle for Pettersson. Maybe it’s an outlier. Who knows what’s going on with him.

However, with Pettersson’s goal last night against Chicago, Pettersson now has four goals in his last five games. Before this stretch, his last goal was on January 21st. It looks like Pettersson is finally getting back on track.

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