Flyers Have No Answer for Lightning’s Third-Period Surge, Lose 7-2 on Saturday

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers (22-13-8) had no answer for Nikita Kucherov and his four-point game as the Tampa Bay Lightning (27-23-3) piled on for a four-goal third period on Saturday night, beating the Flyers 7-2 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Garnet Hathaway and Owen Tippett scored for the Flyers. Nikita Kucherov, Nick Paul, Gage Goncalves, Brandon Hagel, and Yanni Gourde scored for the Lightning.

The Flyers gave Tampa Bay a good fight for the first two periods, but the Lightning just buried Philadelphia in the third period. Philly was without two of its better goal-scorers; against a team as hot as the Lightning, you need everything you have. The Flyers could not finish strong.

Here is how we got to the final score

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Flyers play tough, Lightning still build a two-goal lead

Well, it did not take long for the Lightning to do what they do best: score goals. Brayden Point beat Denver Barkey in a puck battle along the boards while the Flyers were trying to clear the zone. Point (17) found Nikita Kucherov (21) on the doorstep, who ripped a one-timer past Sam Ersson.

It took 1:49 into the game for Tampa Bay to take the 1-0 lead.

However, it did not take long for an unlikely goal-scorer to even the score.

Garnet Hathaway (1) got his first of the season, redirecting a Noah Juulsen (5) slap shot to tie the game at 1 just under 2:30 after the Kucherov goal.

However, the Lightning’s superstar responded with his second goal of the game just 1:50 later. Kucherov (22) scored from the lower half of the left-side dot. Again, his goal was assisted by Point (18) and Charles-Edouard D’Astous (12), regaining the lead for the Lightning 2-1.

The first power play of the game belonged to the Flyers after Brandon Hagel got called for interference. A new unit consisting of Cam York, Christian Dvorak, Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras, and Owen Tippett was deployed. It was the best the team’s power play looked all season.

However, even after a daunting minute-plus in the offensive zone, Philadelphia could not score, keeping the game 2-1 in the Lightning’s favor as the first period expired.

In the second period, the Flyers hung well. It was a physical game in Philadelphia, both sides engaging in some extracurriculars, and each team trading possessions.

For as lopsided as the matchup felt heading into the game, the Flyers held their ground in a tough middle frame.

However, they could not keep the second period clean, as Nick Paul (5) cleaned up a loose puck in front, giving Tampa Bay the 3-1 lead going into the third period.

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Lightning Tack On

In the first 20 minutes, the Flyers put forward a legitimate fight. However, Tampa began to bury the Flyers once the third period kicked off.

Just over two minutes into the third, Gage Goncalves (5) scored off the rush with assists from Kucherov (42) and Darren Raddysh (25). Just over a minute and a half later, Brandon Hagel (21) made it 5-1 Lightning, once again on the rush, assisted by Jake Guentzel (26) and Anthony Cirelli (15).

After a Goncalves high-stick on Nick Seeler, the Flyers were on the power play. Owen Tippett (14) got the Flyers back on the board, assisted by Christian Dvorak (19), making it 5-2.

However, Trevor Zegras lost the puck, leading to a Yanni Gourde (6) breakaway. Gourde did not miss assisted by Zemgus Girgensons (3), putting Tampa Bay back up by four, 6-2.

It did not stop there. Goncalves (6) scored his second of the night, assisted by Kucherov (43) and Brayden Point (19), giving the Lightning the 7-2 lead.

Neither team scored again, sealing the contest at a 7-2 final score.

What’s next

This was just round one. These two teams meet again on Monday. Same time, same place. Flyers vs. Lightning, 7:00 p.m. EST at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

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