Flyers Start Hot, Cool Off, & Bounce Back in Shootout Win vs. Canadiens

The Philadelphia Flyers got off to a hot start, cooled off, and bounced back in a 5-4 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

Bobby Brink got the scoring started for the Flyers with two goals in the first eight minutes of the game. Cam York scored a power-play goal, and Nikita Grebenkin scored his first career NHL goal.

The game would go to the shootout, where Trevor Zegras put them into position to win, and Dan Vladar shut the door on the Canadiens.

Philly had been searching for some offensive production. They got that Tuesday night with 42 total shots on goal.

Here is how we got to the final score.

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Tocchet’s Message Received

The Flyers’ offense has been anything but productive in the past two games. There had been a severe lack of traffic, sticks around the net, and as a result, no greasy goals. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet had been delivering the message that shots with traffic, or sticks in front, result in good things.

It appeared that the message had been received before Tuesday’s game in Montreal.

Less than two minutes into the game, Travis Sanheim put a shot on the Canadiens’ goaltender, Sam Montembeault. Bobby Brink (4) redirected the Sanheim shot, putting the puck in the back of the net for an early first-period goal.

The Flyers got the “greasy” goal that Tocchet had been looking for from his team.

Philadelphia had early momentum in Montreal. Two Montreal penalties within 28 seconds of one another allowed the Flyers to keep building that moment with the two-man advantage.

First, it was Cam York (1) who scored his first of the season, banging home the one-timer off a fantastic pass from Trevor Zegras (10). Travis Konecny (5) picked up the secondary assist on the play.

The score would end the first of the Canadiens’ penalties, but the Flyers would still take advantage of the chance. Zegras (11) fired off a shot from the right-side faceoff circle. His shot would not go, but there were multiple Flyers sticks in front. Noah Cates (6) got his stick on it, but it was Brink (5) who buried the shot, his second of the period.

The Flyers had been in need of offense, and they found it early in the first period. A team that had been struggling to get 20 shots in 60 minutes fired off a total of 12 shots in the first period, compared to the two of the Canadiens.

Philadelphia would have a few more chances in the first, but Montembeault settled in well after the early three goals. The Flyers took the 3-0 lead into the first period.

Montreal Answers

The Flyers got off to a hot start, but the Canadiens eventually answered.

Three minutes into the period, Kirby Dach scored for the Canadiens, cashing in on a Noah Dobson shot that hit off the board and put Dach in the perfect position to score. Not long after, Travis Sanheim got sent to the box for tripping.

A power play immediately following a goal is usually a recipe for disaster for opponents. Nick Suzuki confirms that by burying the power-play goal for Montreal. In the blink of an eye, the Flyers’ 3-0 lead turned to 3-2 just a touch over four minutes into the second period.

Oh, when it rains, it pours.

It looked like the Flyers had settled in and cut some of the Habs’ momentum. That was until Lane Hutson did what he does best, and skated his way into an assist. Hutson got the puck down behind the net, setting up Dach with a perfect chance in front. Dach scored his second goal of the game, and with more than five minutes left in the period, Montreal tied the game.

The Canadiens’ scoring would not stop there.

Ivan Demidov drew a penalty on Brink. Brink went to the box for tripping, and not long after, Demidov ripped a beautiful shot that put Montreal in the lead.

In just one period, the Canadiens wiped away a three-goal deficit and took the lead.

Montembeault stepped up big-time for the Canadiens in the second. While the period was undoubtedly dominated by Montreal, the Flyers had their high-danger chances in the period. 17 shots were fired off by Philly in the second period, but Montembeault stood tall.

Flyers Find the Equalizer, Force OT

The third period was the evenly matched period. Both teams were playing hard. Montreal was pushing to put the Flyers away while Philly was looking to even the score and get back into the game.

It was a fight until the final horn. Neither team was able to get an edge. That was until Nick Deslauriers dropped the gloves with Arber Xhekaj in a heavyweight bout. It seemed like it was a turning point for the Flyers.

It took over five minutes, but eventually, the Flyers did find that equalizer.

Nikita Grebenkin (1) scored his first NHL goal, assisted by Konecny (6) and Jamie Drysdale (4).

Grebenkin’s first career goal could not have come at a better time for the Flyers. Philly was able to even the score and keep the Canadiens’ attack at bay in the third period, forcing overtime.

The overtime period was consumed by lengthy attacks. Philly started overtime with a long possession, followed by a long possession by Montreal, and one more long pressure by the Flyers. Montreal is one of the best overtime teams in the league, but Vladar and the Flyers’ defense stood firm.

Once again, the Flyers went to a shootout.

Dan Vladar stopped all three Canadien shots, and Trevor Zegras, once again, scored in overtime.

Zegras’ shootout goal was enough to give the Flyers the 5-4 win over the Canadiens.

What’s Next for the Flyers

The Flyers stay on the road and head to Music City when they take on the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Puck drop is at 8:00 p.m. EST.

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