TORONTO – The Philadelphia Flyers are gaining themselves a reputation as the ultimate counterpunchers of 2020.
Since Jan. 7, during a run of 37 games and counting, they’ve lost 10 times. On each occasion, they’ve responded the best way possible — with a victory.
Philly doesn’t have losing skids anymore. Only speed bumps.
So it was, following Monday’s rather decisive Game 1 loss to the New York Islanders in their Eastern Conference semifinal, that a leadership group riddled with individual slumps expressed confidence they’d come out swinging Wednesday after taking one on the chin.
Captain Claude Giroux said they didn’t plan on dropping Game 2. Redbeard compatriot Jakub Voracek said he had “no doubt” they’d knot the series.
“I got all the faith in my teammates right now,” Kevin Hayes maintained.
Then the big dogs backed up their words, fast and often, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first period, chasing starter Semyon Varlamov… and then salvaging Game 2 in overtime, by a score of 4-3, and leaving another loss all by its lonesome, surrounded by wins.
“You only get so many chances in this business. There’s 23 teams not playing, and eight of us still are,” reminded Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher. “Opportunities are not always there, and we have a good one right now.”
Such perspective is needed when the offence dries up and the opposition’s goaltender is out here breaking Billy Smith’s playoff shutout records.
The Flyers have yet to locate their A-game this post-season, repeatedly noting they have another level to reach, and yet they came out of the gates flying.
Hayes snapped the first two under the 10-minute mark. Then Sean Couturier (finally) registered his first of the playoffs, a beauty that walked Nick Leddy off a one-on-one rush. Under fire for their lack of production, Giroux and Travis Konecny grabbed assists before Varlamov was pulled early for the first time in favour of Thomas Greiss.
Isles coach Barry Trotz’s gambit not only helped rest Varlamov for Thursday’s Game 3, but served as a wakeup call to the skaters and a reinforcement that no 3-0 lead is safe in the bubble.
A deftly-tipped Anders Lee power-play marker got New York on the board in the second period, and waves of attack descended on Carter Hart in the third.
Anthony Beauvillier sniped his club-leading seventh off the rush, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau forced a fourth period on a borderline offside goal that was unsuccessfully challenged by Flyers coach Alain Vigneault.
“We know this series is going to be intense,” Hart said.
Philly blueliner Philippe Myers blasted the game-winner to prevent yet another Flyers losing skid.
The sides are scheduled to return to Scotiabank Arena in under 24 hours for Game 3 of what is now a best-of-five series.
“I mean, it’s nicer to play games than just sit in a hotel,” said Islanders forward Leo Komarov.
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