Flyers Postgame Blog: Game 2 Was a Step in the Right Direction, But Still Not Enough

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The Philadelphia Flyers took a step in the right direction in their 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2, but it still was not enough to change the final score.

There was a lot to adjust from after being held offenseless on Saturday in Game 1. The Flyers were completely dominated and couldn’t get on the board. Late-game line changes helped spark the Flyers to play better in the back end of the game, but it wasn’t enough to score.

They stuck with those changes in Game 2, and the Flyers got off to their best start of the postseason.

Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier, two players who had fantastic nights for the team, scored within a span of 39 seconds of one another. That gave Philly the quick 2-0 lead. Carolina got one back before the first period ended, but did not score for a while after.

It was a good lesson for the Flyers, playing with the lead, trying to close out a game against a team as aggressive as the Hurricanes. They had looked poised to end the game with the 2-1 score before the Hurricanes’ top line picked apart a Flyers mistake. That led to Seth Jarvis’ equalizer, forcing OT.

The Flyers had played well in overtime. It was an encouraging effort. Unfortunately for Philly, that does not always equate to a win. Philadelphia learned its lesson from Game 6 and took a slow start to OT before turning it on late in the period.

Despite the game looking like it’d head to a second OT, Taylor Hall ended it after Dan Vladar could not control a loose puck.

Let’s break down the loss.

Read More: Flyers Fight Hard, Fall 3-2 Against the Hurricanes in Game 2

Flyers show improved effort​

The Flyers definitely put forth a much better effort in Game 2 than in Game 1.

Offensively, they came alive. While they did not put as many pucks in the back of the net as they would have liked, the Flyers’ offense did come alive in Game 2.

They totaled 36 shots on goal in Game 2 and had 12 high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick. A significant upgrade from the 19 and 2 in Game 1.

A lot of that came from the fact that the Flyers did a much better job at anticipating the Hurricanes’ forechecking and beating the backcheck, at times, setting up possession. It was not entirely perfect by any means, but it was a much, much better effort.

Sean Couturier was a real play-driver for the Flyers and led the team in shots with 5. He was effective as a penalty killer, but offensively, he was creating. Someone may have told him it was 2019 again. He was the Flyers’ best controlled entry player all game.

Jamie Drysdale was reliable defensively and got rewarded with a power-play goal. His development as a two-way defenseman has been incredible this season. He was one of the best players on the ice for the Flyers.

The Flyers as a team seemed to have found how to beat the Hurricanes’ checking. Now they just have to find a way to beat Freddie Andersen, who had a 33-save game in nearly 80 minutes. Philly played well; they just got hot-gaolied.

Still not enough​

Despite the improved effort, there is still much more that could have gone better for the Flyers.

There were so many opportunities, especially in overtime. Think about Travis Konecny’s late overtime breakaway. Matvei Michkov had a few golden chances in OT as well. There were a number of good looks across the board.

That’s not just in overtime, but all game. They did not score again after the first period flurry, but the offense did not go away.

The Flyers were still creating chances. They just could not finish.

Let’s also talk about the power play. They had 7 chances, and only scored on one. Making things even worse for the Flyers, they only had 3 shots on goal. You simply have to be better on the power play if they’re going to give themselves a chance to win.

While it did not kill them on Monday, they did give up 6 power plays, which is something they cannot do if they want to win the series.

Overall, it was a much better effort. The Flyers were still being outplayed, but they hung in there and made it a fight until the very end. Still, there are ways in which they could have, and should have won the game.

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The post Flyers Postgame Blog: Game 2 Was a Step in the Right Direction, But Still Not Enough appeared first on Philly Hockey Now.

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