PHILADELPHIA – It’s not too often a team’s power play not only fails to score a late third-period insurance goal but gives up a shorthanded one leading to an eventual overtime loss.
But it happened to the Flyers on Thursday night.
Leading the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 1-0 score, the Flyers had 52 seconds of five-on-three and couldn’t convert.
Then, still holding a five-on-four manpower advantage, Philadelphia gave up an unassisted shorthanded breakaway goal to ex-Flyer Scott Laughton with 5:56 to play.
That led to overtime and, of course, the Flyers found a way to lose, surrendering a backbreaking goal to Ethan Cowen at 2:47 to wind up on the short end of a 2-1 score in front of a sellout crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
One other down note to this one for the Flyers: Travis Konecny left the game in the third period with an upper-body injury and did not return.
The Flyers had been 15-0-1 possessing a lead after two periods before this debacle.
The Flyers are now 1-10-3 in their last 14 games vs. the Leafs.
Coach Rick Tocchet was asked about his team’s faltering power play, which has dropped all the way down to 30th in NHL rankings.
The five-on-three power play failure was particularly frustrating. At one point, a Toronto defender experienced a broken stick, which essentially created a five-on-two and the Flyers still couldn’t get a decent scoring chance.
“They had two guys on one side,” Tocchet said. “We make one pass, he’s wide open but we’re looking for plays. Instead of organically playing. The other guy lost his stick.
“I don’t know if it’s the pressure. I think some guys are squeezing [their sticks] so much. But we need some guys who understand the pressure and can convert. Rather than take what’s given, we’re looking for something else.”
The Flyers don’t have a Jack Eichel or a Nathan MacKinnon, so rather than one go-to guy, it has to be more like five.
“It can be five guys if they’re doing their jobs,” Tocchet said. “We’re at that stage. We’re up 1-0 with four minutes left.”
Travis Sanheim had a golden opportunity during the power play but missed the net.
The Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton, 24, celebrates after his goal against the Flyers with teammate Philippe Myers during the third period Thursday in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
That led to Laughton’s breakaway.
“I thought we had the game locked in,” Tocchet said. “We have to score there. I still think the guys played hard. Special stuff, we wish some guys converted, yeah? But I’ll take the positives out of it.”
Sanheim knows this year’s team is still a work in progress and this game was a lesson to be learned.
“It’s unfortunate to give up one late,” he said. As for the faltering power play, he added: “Against Anaheim [Tuesday] we had some looks, quite a few shots. We just have to keep working away at it. Just try to keep getting better each day. Hopefully start putting some in. It’s a big part of good teams. Something that we obviously have to be better at.”
Konecny’s goal at the 55-second mark of the second opened the scoring.
Konecny took a pass from Christian Dvorak, stationed in the corner, and the right wing’s shot breezed past goaltender Dennis Hildeby.
Meanwhile, goalie Dan Vladar held his ground during a couple Toronto power plays and covered the net well in even-strength situations as well.
In a scoreless first period, the Flyers appeared to have the majority of good scoring chances but couldn’t get anything past Hildeby.
Garnet Hathaway had one of his best games of the year, especially on the Toronto power play. He blocked shots, threw some big checks and made some clears.
“I can’t go back and change the first half,” he said, mindful that he sat out a half-dozen games. “I wish I could but I can’t. I’m trying to go day-by-day. I’m trying to help this team win games. I think the last few games I’ve played to my identity more than I have before that. That’s what I have to rely on.”
In the big picture, games like this will only make the Flyers more equipped to handle pressure against some of the better teams around the league.
“We’re trying to grow into a playoff team,” Hathaway said. “We’re trying to get our team to find a way to collectively win games, tight games. Ask anybody in this league, the games get tighter [in the second half]. How are we going to take the next step? How can we hold onto games? The mentality to win is there. I think that’s the step we need to take to get to the next level.”
First-half stats
The Flyers finished the first half of their season with some pretty good numbers.
They had the fifth-fewest regulation losses (12) and seventh-best winning percentage (.622). Also, they allowed the fourth-fewest goals (118), trailing only Colorado (97), Tampa Bay (112) and Los Angeles (117).
Sanheim climbing list
Sanheim now stands fourth on the Flyers’ all-time games played list with 621. He just passed the late, great Ed Van Impe (620). Chris Therien is the all-time leader with 753. He’s followed by Joe Watson (746) and Eric Desjardins (738).
Wayne Fish is a freelance writer. Follow his coverage at http://www.flyingfishhockey.com