Flames run Flyers ragged in 3-1 win

Playing a fourth game in a fourth different time zone, the start was suboptimal for the Flyers tonight as Michael Frolik deposited one past Brian Elliott less than two minutes in to make it 1-0 Flames.

As you can see Justin Braun interferes with his own goalie, which doesn’t change things on the scoreboard unfortunately.

Despite allowing the first goal and the subsequent nine icing calls to follow, the Flyers headed to the power play with 13:06 left in the first with a chance to even the score. Nothing was doing, then Michael Raffl would earn another one that Ghost would cancel out only to see Matthew Tkachuk would give right back. Remember we’re all here to see the guys in the stripes, people.

Best chance of the first period for the Flyers that wasn’t from Chris Stewart (lmao, no seriously) was Sean Couturier near the end of the first, but David Rittich was able to fight it off.

The Flyers would catch a break before intermission with a Flames goal disallowed, because this is hockey, not soccer, Sean Monahan.

The Flyers had a good chance to start the second, but Oskar Lindblom was denied after a great pass by Travis Konecny as they broke in with a 2-on-1. That one wouldn't go, and neither would a plethora of chances for James van Riemsdyk in front as Rittich held his ground early in the second.

Despite a parade to the penalty box from both teams, the Flyers found themselves 0-4 with just four shots on the man advantage through 30 minutes of action. It was ugly out there. Remember those eight icings we told you about earlier? Well, double that, because that was clearly part of the Flyers’ game plan for some reason (it was actually 10 through two period, which is insane).

Armed without momentum of any sort, the Flyers would find themselves down 2-0 with 5:45 left in the second on a re-direction, this one from Andrew Mangiapane. Another goal, another lifeless effort in front of Elliott as the Flyers really couldn’t be bothered to put forth any effort resembling competent hockey in the first 40 minutes.

The start of the third featured more of the same, only with Elliott helping keeps things close at 2-0 with some slick saves early. It wasn’t Elliott’s fault that the Flyers were down two as he didn't have a chance at either goal.

But as bad as they were playing, Matt Niskanen would pull the Flyers within one at 2-1 on a delayed call with Konecny providing the helper with 15:02 remaining. It’s Niskanen’s first goal as a Flyer, and he’s got points in three straight while TK has points in all four games thus far.

Kevin Hayes tried to follow with a highlight-reel move along the boards and out in front of Rittich, but no dice as the goaltender kept the Flames’ lead intact for another rush.

With 2:44 left Alain Vigneault would roll the dice and pull Elliott in favor of the extra skater, a bold move aiming to steal a point in a game the Flyers didn’t deserve to earn one. A Rittich attempt at the empty net later and the Flyers were down to just 51 seconds on the clock and down a goal still.

They would not score, though the Flames would as Elias Lindholm put one in the empty net to make it a 3-1 final though it really wasn’t even that close.

Three stars

1. Brian Elliott

He kept the Flyers in this one much longer than they should have been, and that’s encouraging because he wasn’t very good last year.

2. Matt Niskanen

Points in three of four for one of the Flyers’ prized offseason acquisitions, and more solid work in his own zone breaking up plays and clogging passing lanes with his twig. He's been solid, really solid.

3. Oskar Lindblom

Couple of great scoring chances, but no dice for the Swede on this night, though it was filled with strong play in all three zones and a continuation of his strong start through four games.

GIF of the Night

I mean you all watched that game. There weren’t many high points, or anything of note really. It just kind of happened.