Three Flyers Thoughts: No Quit, Shot Battle, Konecny’s Struggles

The Philadelphia Flyers made a great late-game effort but were unable to complete the late-game comeback.

Despite the Flyers’ fantastic third period, which was dominated by the Orange and Black, the Washington Capitals held on to their 3-2 lead as the final horn rang.

Buried in the loss, there was plenty of good from Thursday’s game to go along with the loss.

Read More: Flyers Make a Late Game Push, Still Fall 3-2 to Washington

Flyers Show No Quit

It could have been so easy for the Flyers just to call it a wrap after the first two periods and just go through the motions of the final period.

The Flyers put up a semi-fight in the first period but looked absolutely deflated in the second period. With nothing left to play for in the season, it could have been so easy for the Flyers to pack it in and just play. However, they did not do that.

The Flyers showed no quit and battled their way back into the game in the third period. I mean, the Flyers absolutely dominated the period. The Capitals barely had puck possession. They did score once with a John Carlson goal, but it was overturned after the replay showed a missed hand pass earlier in the play.

The Flyers were finally generating offense, scoring twice. Ryan Poehling and Sean Couturier helped the Flyers claw their way back into the game. They were unable to complete the comeback, but their lack of quit was a positive from Thursday’s game.

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Limiting the Capitals’ Chances

Yes, the Washington Capitals scored three goals in Thursday’s game. Looking deeper at that number, the Capitals scored three goals on, *checks notes* 16 shots. The Capitals are a fantastic team. They average just under 28 shots per game this season. Holding them to just 16 shots is extremely impressive.

Again, three goals against isn’t great. It’s not bad, but it’s certainly not good. However, if they scored three goals on 16 shots, imagine how bad the score would have been if the Flyers had not limited them the way they did.

Let’s expand even further. In the first period, the Flyers were outshot by the Capitals 6-5. Then, it was 8-7 in favor of Washington in the second period. The Flyers’ shot totals were not great by any means, but holding the Caps to those numbers was impressive.

The biggest feat of the night: Washington had just two; that’s right, TWO shots on goal in the third period.

You want to spark a comeback? The best way to do so is to limit your opponent’s chances. I had mentioned earlier that the Flyers dominated the third period. Well, Philly won the third-period shot battle 16-2. The Flyers were able to crawl back into the game, and that was because they limited the Capitals’ chances.

Read More: What are the Flyers Getting with Nikita Grebenkin?

Konecny is STILL Snakebitten

I cannot wait until Travis Konecny’s massive slump is not a Flyers’ storyline. Unfortunately for me, today is not that day.

Instead of highlighting a game full of Konecny’s struggles, I want to look at the third period.

In that third period, Konecny had a plethora of great chances. Whether that be from setting up in the zone, off the rush, or even a two-man breakaway, Konecny had the opportunity to snap his skid. However, the Flyers’ star remained snakebitten, even when they needed him the most.

Konecny very well could have been the difference in Thursday’s game, especially given the late-game comeback attempt.

Konecny led a two-man breakaway with Matvei Michkov. He opted to dish the puck to Michkov, who saw Caps netminder Charlie Lindgren anticipating his shot. Michkov then passed back to Konecny, who has an easy tap-in he usually would not miss. Instead, he pushed it wide of the net, missing the chance.

Konecny then had a wrap-around opportunity, stunned by Lindgren. With time ticking away—and I mean the final seconds of the game—Konecny had a chance for a one-timer. He instead decided to pass the puck out, which was intercepted by the Capitals, ultimately ending the game.

I am running out of words to describe Konecny’s struggles, he needs to break out of it soon.

Read More: Breaking Down the Flyers’ Offensive Struggles