Coming off a solid 3-1 win over the Ducks, the Flyers went into Los Angeles with a little bit of momentum, but were ultimately squashed by a more-talented Kings team at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night. The Flyers received welcome signs from Matvei Michkov and Tyson Foerster, but a rough night from Alexsei Kolosov and a poor third period doomed the Flyers in a winnable game. With the loss, the Flyers end the season series with Los Angeles having dropped both games in regulation, and having lost four of their past five to the Kings.
The Basics
First period: 5:14 – Kevin Fiala (Laferriere, Danault), 8:17 – Tyson Foerster (York, Sanheim), 14:09 – Scott Laughton (Michkov, Frost), 16:54 – Adrian Kempe (Clarke, Turcotte)
Second period: 11:03 – Matvei Michkov (Laughton, Ristolainen), 13:42 – Joel Farabee (Hathaway, Poehling), 15:04 – Warren Foegele
Third period: 6:43 – Anze Kopitar (Byfield, Moverare), 8:55 – Anze Kopitar (Kempe) (PPG)
SOG: 21 (PHI) – 20 (LAK)
Some Takeaways
Matvei Michkov breaks his drought
Despite the result tonight, a massive development of tonight’s game is the reinvigorated play of Matvei Michkov. After being near invisible in the last 6-7 games, John Tortorella had plenty to say about the team’s development strategy for the rookie, in the context of his first rookie slump. It’s not simply that Michkov hasn’t really been able to score in a while, Michkov had minimal impact whatsoever, especially on Saturday against Anaheim.
So, when Tortorella opted against sitting Michkov (as one might have expected post-Anaheim), Michkov had the opportunity to respond to the ongoing discussion about his rookie slump – and he answered the call with one of the more impactful games of his 35-game career.
Finishing with a goal and an assist, Michkov was able to effectively do a lot of the things that we’ve come to expect from him. Creative maneuvers in tight areas on the ice, high IQ plays from behind the net, and consistent tape-to-tape passes to his linemates. On his goal in particular, Michkov succeeded on a play that he has tried time and time again this season: a behind the net bank off the goaltender. It’s the little plays and his knack for doing whatever it takes to put the puck in the net that makes Michkov special, so it’s a welcome sign to see Michkov making an impact in this way yet again.
Foerster scores, continues run of strong play
If yesterday was Noah Cates’ day, then today was a really strong effort from one of his linemates in Tyson Foerster. Foerster kicked off the scoring on the night for the Flyers, knotting the game at one on a nifty breakaway maneuver. It’s a different guy every night for that line, and it’s without question that Tortorella is leaning on perhaps the only combo that’s working right now. It felt like every shift in the last 10 minutes of the game featured Brink-Cates-Foerster, with Michkov sprinkled in throughout.
For Foerster in particular, he’s been excellent for a long stretch of time now. After initial concerns that Foerster was going through a sophomore slump, his last 20 games have done a lot to re-inspire confidence in Foerster’s higher-end abilities. He’s back to being a play-driving, forechecking menace, while simultaneously flashing a high-end shot and a very high hockey IQ.
Two in a row for Farabee
Buzzed Joel Farabee is…buzzing?
Well, perhaps all Farabee needed was a haircut from Scott Laughton (as revealed during an intermission interview) to get back into the good graces of the hockey gods. It wasn’t the strongest game for Farabee from a territorial standpoint (40% Corsi-for), but Farabee’s unrewarded strong play from earlier in the year warrants Farabee getting one or two extra bounces nowadays. On his goal tonight, Garnet Hathaway did a lot of the work, muscling his way past a few Kings to create a 2-on-1 with Farabee. Joel Farabee was in position to receive a pass netfront, and made no mistake in tapping the puck past David Rittich. A much deserved turn of luck for Farabee and for the Flyers, who really could use more scoring from the young forward.
Zamula-Konecny giveaway
Now to the bad, where the Flyers had the Kings in a really favorable position, but ultimately blew it in the second half of the game. Really, the turn in momentum can be traced back to a play in the second period, where the Flyers had a 4-2 lead. Zamula, after receiving a pass at the point, opted to drop the puck to Konecny in an extremely unfavorable position instead of skating it further into the zone. Then, Konecny made an equally questionable play, throwing the puck mindlessly in between the legs across the point, where it was intercepted for a breakaway goal by Warren Foegele. The Kings pounced on the mistake, and the Flyers lead was cut to one right near the end of the second period. From that point forward, it was full steam ahead for Los Angeles after Philadelphia’s unforced error.
Kings take over the third period, again
Much like the Flyers’ 7-3 loss to the Kings just 10 days ago, the third period ruined the Flyers chances in what was a winnable game heading into the final frame. This one wasn’t a meltdown, compared to the four-goal onslaught on December 19th, but the Flyers went into the third period with a lead and lost in regulation. Ultimately doomed by future hall of famer Anze Kopitar, the Flyers simply had little offensive pressure outside of Foerster-Cates-Brink. Sanheim missed on a wide open chance on a power play, and while the Flyers missed on their few opportunities, there simply weren’t too many of them in this game for either side. It certainly didn’t feel as if the Flyers gave this game away, but it’s an extremely frustrating loss in what was a winnable game against a high-quality opponent.
