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Some takeaways from Flyers’ 4-0 win over San Jose

Posted on by Jason MacNeil
Dec 31, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler (24) scores a goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) and defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

The Flyers defeated the Sharks 4-0 on a combined Sam Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov shutout on New Year’s Eve in San Jose. The win came at a price though as Ersson left after the second period due to injury.

The Basics

First period: 5:59- Nick Seeler (Jamie Drysdale)

Second period: 12:09- Ryan Poehling (Egor Zamula, Bobby Brink), 13:44- Travis Konecny (Owen Tippett, Jamie Drysdale) (PPG)

Third period: 2:30- Egor Zamula (Bobby Brink, Noah Cates)

SOG: 34 (PHI) – 22 (SJS)

Some Takeaways

Calder contest

The second head-to-head meeting between San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov began with Celebrini beating Sam Ersson clean early in the first period. But not the goal post. Celebrini beat Ersson again in the first but the puck didn’t slide quickly enough to the goal line before Ersson reached around and grabbed it. Ersson was saved again by the post with under two to go in the first, although made a good stop on a Will Smith slap shot from the blueline.

As for Michkov, his best chance was in the second when his shot in a great area was deftly deflected by a Sharks blueliner and his active stick. He made a good defensive play which should’ve got John Tortorella all excited when he retrieved a puck in the neutral zone but took a heavy but clean hit from Will Smith along the boards.

Unfortunately for Celebrini, he scored an own goal of sorts when a shot from Egor Zamula bounced off him as he was falling to the ice holding Bobby Brink’s stick. The goal essentially sealed the win for the Flyers making it 4-0 early in the third.

Poehling, Couturier trade places

The one not-so-subtle lineup change was seeing Ryan Poehling and Sean Couturier switching places on lines. Poehling was pushed up to the top six while Couturier found himself on the fourth line, making Couturier, Joel Farabee and Garnet Hathaway the fourth line trio. The captain took an iffy penalty up ice late in the first but the Flyers killed the penalty for a change.

As for Poehling’s line, they fared a bit better (3-1 in chances for in the first) but were once again the runner-up to the Noah Cates line with Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink that continue to hum (4-0 chances for in the opening period). Poehling hit paydirt in the second when he finally (unlike some other Flyers in previous games) had an almost entire empty net and put it beyond both Georgiev and the goal line for a 2-0 lead.

Last shot wins?

The Flyers currently have the worst save percentage in the league. The one bright spot Sunday night was they were facing Alexandar Georgiev, the former Avs goalie who found a home recently in San Jose. Georgiev was not strong to start as Nick Seeler of all people beat the Sharks netminder with a shot that bounced off his near side and in.

The Flyers thought they had a second goal on a power play when Morgan Frost tipped in an Owen Tippett pass. However the joy was short-lived when San Jose successfully challenged the goal for being offsides.

In the second Ersson was solid when the Flyers were on a longer shift (and with the longer line change) when Cam York broke his stick trying to clear the puck. A few failed defensive clears finally ended with the puck getting out of the zone. The easiest way for the Flyers collectively to improve the goalie’s save percentage is to limit the amount of shots. They did just that for the first 40 minutes as they allowed only 14 shots on goal. And also ended up blocking 17 shots in that time.

Ersson doesn’t finish

Ersson didn’t start the third period and was replaced by Aleksei Kolosov. There was initially no word as to whether or not he was injured but the Flyers tweeted he was hurt moments later. Ersson did collide with a Sharks player in the second outside of his goal crease but at the time didn’t look like he was hurt. Hopefully it’s something minor but it’s a concern moving forward.

It also once again makes the Flyers three-headed goal monster alive and well as it’s doubtful Ersson would see action Tuesday night in Las Vegas. It might be premature and simply precautionary to avoid another tweak but this injury seems to be far more nagging than anyone wants it to be. Ivan Fedotov, come on down!

Kolosov stoned Celebrini with just over six minutes left in the third with a blocker save on the Calder candidate in the slot. And he made another fantastic save on Luke Kunin with his right pad.

Power play? Power play!

The Flyers were buzzing throughout most of the second period and were rewarded when Sean Couturier was tripped up. Philadelphia were almost surgical with the man advantage as Owen Tippett delivered a crisp, cross-ice pass to Travis Konecny for a one-timer that Georgiev had no chance on.

A power play early in the third wasn’t as effective but Konecny looked cool and confident as the quarterback, making quick tape-to-tape passes that have been the exception for most of the dismal power plays this season.

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