BOX SCORE
Once again, it was not fun for the Flyers in this best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
But they were at least nicer in style and commitment Sunday night and did just enough to record a massive 1-0 victory over the Canadiens in Game 3 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Oh, and Carter Hart was very good, propelling the Flyers back into the lead of the series, making a 2-1 lead.
Jakub Voracek scored the only goal and the Flyers fought offensively. However, they were solid for their net, blocking 24 shots (Matt Niskanen had six) and improving to 5-0-0 when they first scored in those playoffs.
“Sometimes you get these where guys work extremely hard to not give themselves as much space as the opposition,” Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said in a video interview. “You just have to fathom it – that’s what we did. We scored that goal early, Carter made some big savings and we were able to get the profit.”
• The Flyers have not lost a game in a row since December 31st. 7, when four fell straight through.
Since Jan. 7, in games following their last nine losses, the Flyers have been 9-0-0 and have outscored the opposition 41-17.
The Flyers have desperately scored more goals. Their top five regular season goal scorers – Travis Konecny (24 goals), Kevin Hayes (23), Sean Couturier (22), Claude Giroux (21) and James van Riemsdyk (19) – have combined for 10 assists, but no goals in the tournament so far.
But after going 5-0, in Game 2, the Flyers threw their own shutout in Game 3. That’s a reaction.
• What a bounce-back effort from Hart, who was not terrible during Game 2, but was caught late in the second period when Vigneault tried to kick his club for not kicking.
Hart made 29 seconds a massive save in the match. If Montreal had scored, the Flyers would have been early for a second straight game and probably thought a lot more.
Heck of a save, Hart. pic.twitter.com/0doNYPKBza
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 17, 2020
The Flyers know if they give Hart an advantage at the start of the third period, they have a great chance of winning. In the regular season, Hart was 17-0-1 with a 1.60 goal-versus-average and .943 save percentage when he led to the middle streak. Hart was great in the final frame.
Overall, the 22-year-old made 23 saves and improved it to 4-1-0 with 129 stops on 136 shots in the tournament.
“It’s good that he’s a little too forgettable for some things as a goalkeeper in Philadelphia,” Voracek said with a laugh. “He’s mentally strong. He’s a young kid who works really hard.
“It’s a goalie fight … two of the best goalies in the NHL going on it.”
Shut0ut. pic.twitter.com/TNQeeEazp1
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 17, 2020
On his 33rd birthday, Carey Price converted 19 savings. He has only conceded three goals through three games this series.
• Back on the front line with Giroux and Couturier, Voracek made another heads-up play by going after the net and looking for the puck.
Giroux found him wise and Voracek was able to get the puck to jump past Price to give the Flyers the important early lead in the first period.
It marked Voracek’s second goal of the series, both of which had just come through the cripple and for Price.
“I have scored two goals and I do not need a stick yet,” said Voracek. “I find that a positive thing.”
FLYERS STRIKE FIRST!
Jake with the diversion to put it past Price and give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/uUth4fzdCw
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 17, 2020
Credit to the Flyers, who put together a solid response in the first period.
After the Canadiens jumped all over them in the opening tanza of Game 2 with 16 shots and two goals, the Flyers scored things up, delivering only five shots.
Outside of the whole answer story, the big question that Game 3 introduces was Vigneault making changes in lineup.
He made a few, one more expected, the other a little more surprising.
Robert Hagg came on for Shayne Gostisbehere, while Michael Raffl came back from a minor injury and replaced Joel Farabee.
Like Farabee has played (two goals and one assist in four games), Raffl will play when he is healthy. It was probably a difficult decision for Vigneault to take out the rookie Farabee, but Vigneault probably wanted to get to the Canadiens with some more great, physical, foresight and possessive hockey in an enormous Game 3.
Vigneault said after postgame that he felt the fourth unit of Raffl, Nate Thompson and Tyler Pitlick was one of the Flyers’ most effective lines in victory.
The 20-year-old Farabee (6-0 / 164), who has taken a ton of hits in the tournament so far, will be waiting for his next chance and could clearly give the Flyers a slap in the face.
Hagg was stiff with an assist and those dead kind of plays.
• Uncharacteristically, Scott Laughton had a few glitzy passes that led to scoring chances for the Canadiens. Hart beat Laughton both times.
Look for Laughton to be sharper and worse in Game 4, because those miscues were very different.
• Update special teams:
The power play of the Flyers is 1 for 25 in the tournament and was especially ineffective in the third period of Game 3. By giving Riemsdyk a look at the first unit could provide a lift.
The team’s penalty kill so far is 16 for 20 and was strong in Game 3.
• The defensive pairing of Travis Sanheim and Philippe Myers was great at both ends of the rink.
Despite the inexperience of the playoffs in the tournament, they have been so reliable.
• Oskar Lindblom was shown on the NBC broadcast and watched the game from the stands.
Lindblom, who enjoyed his 24th birthday on Saturday, is back to practice with the Flyers.
Sunday was an emotional and powerful morning for Lindblom and the Flyers.
Oskar Lindblom in the stands 🖤 pic.twitter.com/Ld0hVNLAMp
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 17, 2020
“He’s at the gym in the hotel every morning.”
– Michael Raffl on Oskar Lindblom pic.twitter.com/ZXNNl6vJw6
– Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) August 17, 2020
• The series continues Tuesday with Game 4 at 3pm ET on NBCSP.
Click here for the full schedule of the series.
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