Matt Read does Gordon Bombay impression in shootout as Flyers lose to Avalanche

by Travis Hughes on Dec 20, 2011 12:43 AM EST in Philadelphia Flyers Game Recaps - 11-12

[Shift Charts] - [Head-to-Head TOI] - [Corsi and Fenwick] - [5-on-5 Faceoffs]

It might not have been a penalty shot to win a championship game like Gordon Bombay faced as a kid in Mighty Ducks, but Matt Read certainly Gordon Bombay'd on his shootout attempt on Monday night at Pepsi Center, and as a result, the Philadelphia Flyers lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Colorado Avalanche.

Read, needing a goal to keep the shootout alive, clanked it off the post and sealed the win for the Avs. But you know what? Since nobody could stop a damn puck -- the five other attempts all went in the net, meaning the post was the only thing capable of making a save -- it's pretty hard to blame Read for the loss. It's pretty hard to blame anybody for it, really. The shootout sucks, and the Flyers suck at it even more.

So as for the actual hockey? The Flyers actually played a pretty solid game in all ends of the ice, but the second period really did them in. A really fluky goal was probably payback from the hockey Gods for that fluky goal the Flyers got in the Pittsburgh game last week, but really, the team sat back a bit with a 1-0 lead in the second period, and that's ultimately what kept them from getting the two points in the long run.

Other than that, you have to give 'em credit for battling back on the road and earning a point, and you have to like the silkiness of Jaromir Jagr and Danny Briere in the third period and overtime. They look wonderful together.

We'll take the point, I guess, and chalk the rest off to the BS that is the shootout. Boston took over sole possession of first place in the East by beating Montreal tonight, but whatever. It's December. Let them have it. Dallas is going to be a really tough game on Wednesday night.

Questions with Answers

Ben Holmstrom is up and in the lineup. How's he look? I thought he looked good on that fourth line. He plays a simple game. It suits him well on that unit. He won like a billion faceoffs too.
Same goes for Tom Sestito? Same goes, yep. Sestito didn't look out of place tonight and didn't play dumb, which was the worry. He's got better wheels than Jody Shelley and a bit more skill, too, so let's hope he can keep that up.
And Matt Walker *gulp*? I didn't notice Matt Walker. He apparently blocked two shots. This is good.
Colorado is bad at scoring goals. Can the Flyers hold them down tonight? Well, they held them to two goals. The Flyers should win games in which they're holding the opposition to two goals or fewer.
Briere up with Jagr and Hartnell. How's that look? Sex.
Can Ilya Bryzgalov bounce back from a bad game Saturday? Can the whole team, for that matter? I thought Bryz played well, although he could've had the paddle down on that one goal. Let's ignore the shootout.

Comment of the Night

Hartnell College Bike Team

[click here for GIF]

>> Prometheus74

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Comments

I think I just watched that .gif way too many times and laughed the whole time. Also, I had to read the answer to the Briere with Jagr and Harnell answer two times too.

The shootout is annoying… this reminded me of that Sharks-Avs game from last week (?) when the Sharks tied it in the final seconds and then the Avs won in the SO. Annoying, but a point is a point… better than none for a hard fought game.

www.southpawcurve.blogspot.com - check out my baseball blog!!

by JLS89 on Dec 20, 2011 12:51 AM EST reply actions

To be honest does anyone expect a Flyers minus Pronger, Giroux, Schenn and Couturier (that is, with Talbot on the second line) to be any better than a .500 team? I’m happy with 1-1-1 over the last three games. When we get Giroux back we can continue where we left off

Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.

One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Dec 20, 2011 2:08 AM EST reply actions

Just wanted to say that even without a bunch of your best players, you guys still have a great team. Tonight came down to a lucky crossbar in a competition that the Avs seem to win more often than not (17-1 streak, 6-0 this year). Even though we’re technically a sub-.500 team, the Avs have been playing their best hockey of the year for the past two weeks or so and are starting to put themselves back within easy striking distance of the playoffs. We also seem to have the Eastern Conference’s number this season (8-1-0, best in the league). We’re young, we’re streaky, and you managed to catch us while we’re getting hot. Either way, tonight was a great game. Both teams definitely deserved a point.

Anyway, I hope your injured players can come back soon, and good luck with the Classic and the rest of the season!

Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.

by andidee15 on Dec 20, 2011 3:14 AM EST reply actions

Thanks for the warm wishes. As a Philly native who lives in NYC I too wish we put a good show on during the classic. Good luck to the Avs too!

by koh on Dec 20, 2011 3:33 AM EST up reply actions

Is anybody else a little surprised Jagr hasn’t had a shot at a shootout this year? I know he was winded and looked totally beat at the end but he really used to be good at making the goalie freeze and just deking them out of their skates. I probably would have gone with the veteran in that situation than putting in a rookie in that high pressure situation.

"Good game. Let's go eat."

by andyb on Dec 20, 2011 4:36 AM EST reply actions

Well done Flyers!

Firstly I hate Shoot Outs, they suck and if they were a person I’d punch him in the face.

After looking at the line-up last night, before I headed to bed, I noted that we had just 3 regulars from last years’ starting forwards. Not a good situation to be in! Although I didn’t actually see the game It looks like (from quickly flicking through the game thread) the youngsters played pretty well and held in for a well earned point.

Anyway, well done lads! This should only make the team stronger in the long run with all these young guys getting NHL level experience.

#2 Flyers fan in England behind Orange and Black Forever (Damn him and his Americanness)

Long Live The KING!!!

by UKFlyer on Dec 20, 2011 4:53 AM EST reply actions