In what was the biggest game of the Philadelphia Flyers season, the team played well, but not great. There were positives, but not enough. They’re closing in on getting themselves in the playoff race, but took a step back.
Sure, a premature whistle on a puck Matt Murray never controlled took the orange and black off the board. They could’ve been down 2-1 rather than 2-0 heading into the third period, but that call alone is not why they lost.
Murray played an exceptional game between the pipes for Pittsburgh, and Philly simply didn’t do enough with the chances they had. A couple of Oskar Lindblom chances should have been goals. Pittsburgh took a pair of delay of game calls in the first 25 minutes, playing pucks into the stands to give the Flyers power plays they couldn’t convert. And just a few defensive zone lapses, mixed with Carter Hart playing what was not his best game (24 saves on 27 shots), resulted in a loss, Philadelphia’s first in regulation since January 12.
A few big name Flyers weren’t up to their usual standards, and while the team didn’t play poorly, outshooting the Pens 51-28, they still weren’t good enough. Which sucks, because it’s the freakin’ Penguins. But it does kind of feel good to care again.
And you care, which is why you’re here. Stay a while and listen to the BSH Radio postgame, breaking down the game, the upcoming deadline, and the trash that was the officiating last night.
