Injured Flyers Outlast Maple Leafs for Shootout Win

With the injury bug biting, the Philadelphia Flyers (28-21-11) picked up a massive two points, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs (27-24-10) 3-2 in the shootout on Monday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Dakota Joshua and William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs. Christian Dvorak and Noah Cates scored for the Flyers.

The Flyers were without Travis Konecny, who was a game-time decision scratch with an injury. Nick Seeler exited the game during the second period.

A busy first period followed by a quick but uneventful second period led to a critical third period for both squads. The Flyers took the lead late in the game, but a big-time power-play goal for the Maple Leafs forced overtime. Neither team could get one to go in overtime, and it ended in a shootout.

Here is how we got to the final score.

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Flyers answer the Maple Leafs Opener, Tied After One

The Flyers got off to an unusual start: they were getting shots on goal. Early on, Philly was testing Maple Leaf netminder Anthony Stolarz.

Just over three minutes into the game, the Flyers had a chance on the power play courtesy of an Easton Cowan tripping penalty. Just like the last game, the man-advantage took a moment to heat up, but eventually found a groove.

The Flyers were unable to score, but they continued to put pressure on Stolarz.

There was a moment early in the latter half of the period where Trezor Zegras had a great chance, but a great stick from Dakota Joshua kept Zegras from getting a shot off.

Another Flyers’ power play came soon after, with Nicolas Roy serving two for interference, but the man-advantage chance did not last long, as the Flyers picked up a bench minor for too many men.

Dan Vladar was having another stellar period, but Toronto forced a turnover in their offensive zone, and Dakota Joshua (7) went through the legs of Sean Couturier and into the back of the net. Mattias Maccelli (16) picked up the assist.

Moments later, Auston Matthews rang the iron, but no goal. Zegras took the puck the other way and drew the Flyers’ third power play of the game after a Brandon Carlo hold.

It was looking like Philly was headed for a 0/3 start on the power play, but Christian Dvorak (13), donning the “A” in Travis Konecny’s absence, kept pushing at the puck in front of the goal and pushed it over the goal line. Noah Cates (19) and the hometown kid, Denver Barkey (8), picked up the assists.

That brought the game to the first intermission in a 1-1 tie.

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Toronto forces overtime late

After a busy first period, the game settled down in the second period. Despite the tied score, the Flyers looked like the better team after 20, but the Leafs were all over them to start the second.

There was a lack of whistles in the second period. Despite plenty of chaos, no penalties were called in the period as play went unbothered.

After being outshot 14-7 in the first period, the Maple Leafs began to dominate the Flyers in the second. They closed the shot gap after an 11-4 second period. Fortunately for Philly, Dan Vladar was excellent once again. He kept the game tied at 1 going into the second intermission.

40 seconds into the third period, the Flyers turned the puck over, leading to a William Nylander rush. Rasmus Ristolainen took the holding penalty to stop the breakaway, and the Leafs got a key power-play chance.

Down one of its best penalty killers, Philadelphia came up with the big-time kill.

Play continued on, and both teams took a step back. However, with about seven minutes to go, the Flyers picked their intensity back up and began putting more pressure on the Leafs.

With a little over five minutes to play in the game, Noah Cates (12) made up for ringing the post early in the period and buried the go-ahead goal with an assist from Bobby Brink (13).

Moments later, Toronto had a good chance following a Denver Barkey tripping penalty. The Flyers were 7 seconds away from another big penalty kill, but a William Nylander (20) one-timer from a John Tavares (28) pass made it a new game once again.

Auston Matthews had a handful of great looks for the Leafs. Jamie Drysdale had the Flyers’ best chance at 3-on-3, but neither team scored, and the game went into a shootout.

Shootout results

William Nylander beats Vladar; Matvei Michkov beats Stolarz.
Auston Matthews stopped by Vladar; Zegras rips one past Stolarz.
Max Domi had a chance to extend the shootout, but Vladar shut the door on him.

The Flyers leave Toronto with a 3-2 win in the shootout.

What’s next for the Flyers

The Flyers will return home from a short one-game trip and will host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in one last game before the NHL trade deadline. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. EST.

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