Winless Flyers lose fifth straight, but it feels like a step forward originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Flyers suffered another loss with a 2-1 decision Thursday night to the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.
But despite being 0-3-2, the Flyers will hope this loss was a step in the right direction.
Sure, call it a moral victory, but the Flyers have been desperate for just some positive signs. And they had some against Ottawa (more on that below).
Carter Yakemchuk scored the game-winning goal on a power play for the Senators with just under seven minutes left in the action.
Matvei Michkov tied the game at 1-1 in the second period. His goal snapped an 0-for-12 start for the Flyers’ power play. Michkov tapped in a loose puck behind Ottawa netminder Linus Ullmark.
Rick Tocchet’s club had a golden opportunity to grab the lead in the third period with a 5-on-3 power play for 27 seconds. The Flyers couldn’t convert, though, and came up empty at 5-on-4, too.
The Flyers have dropped five in a row to start the season for the first time since 2008-09, when they lost six straight out of the chute (0-3-3). That team ended up making the playoffs, finishing with 99 points at 44-27-11.
Thursday night was the Senators’ home opener. Ottawa improved to 3-1-0.
• Joseph Woll continued to do his part, converting 24 saves on 26 shots.
The 28-year-old had a massive stop with a 11:06 minutes left in the third period when Michael Amadio had a shorthanded breakaway. A little over two minutes later, with the game back at even strength, Woll turned away Fabian Zetterlund in close.
Yakemchuk’s game-winner on the power play was off a blast from deep with traffic.
After being acquired in the offseason, Woll has denied 102 of 110 shots through his first three starts. He has a .927 save percentage.
The Flyers had a pretty solid start, outshooting the Senators 6-1 through the opening 6:39 minutes. But they totally stalled the momentum by committing four consecutive penalties. The infractions came in a span of 6:30 minutes. Travis Sanheim had two of them, while Michkov and Simon Benoit had one apiece.
Tocchet’s club survived the first period with just a 1-0 deficit. The Flyers were burned by a tough bounce just after they killed off the first penalty. Cam York was unable to take away the stick of Nick Cousins, who deflected one past Woll.
Ullmark stopped 28 of the Flyers’ 29 shots.
• The Flyers at least created some chances offensively and shored things up defensively. They worked harder and they were more connected.
Those were all positives. We didn’t really see those things from this team through the first four games.
The Flyers entered Thursday night with a head-scratching minus-81 shot differential. They had just 19.3 shots per game and were allowing 39.5.
But against Ottawa, the Flyers had a plus-3 shot differential and 10 more shots than what they were averaging. They started to look more like the team from down the stretch last season.
• Travis Konecny was shown on the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast going up the tunnel with around nine minutes left in the third period. But he was able to return to the game and finished with 17:04 minutes.
The Flyers’ alternate captain appeared to be shaken up after taking a check to his right leg.
• Michael Bunting had the costly penalty that set up the Senators’ game-winning goal. He was whistled for hooking.
Two days after signing with the Flyers, the 31-year-old winger joined the fourth line and played 10:56 minutes. He had a couple of shots and was noticeable, but the penalty came at a bad time.
The Flyers switched up their line combinations and defensive pairs in an attempt for a spark.
Trevor Zegras moved to the wing on a line with Christian Dvorak and Owen Tippett. Denver Barkey played down the middle between Michkov and Tyson Foerster.
On the back end, Jamie Drysdale joined Sanheim on the top pair. York played alongside David Jiricek.
• Rasmus Ristolainen missed a second straight game after taking a shot to his left hand last Saturday night.
The defenseman joined the Flyers for this three-game road trip, so the injury appears to be more short term than long term.
• The Flyers wrap up their trip Saturday when they visit the Bruins (1 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
