Every Monday, GNGHockey will have a weekly recap dedicated to showing what happened in the previous week for the Philadelphia Flyers, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and Hershey Bears. For more inside info on these teams, you can select their category by hovering over “The Inside Edge”.
Philadelphia Flyers (5-3-0, 10 points, 3rd in Metropolitan)
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 – VS Florida Panthers (5-1 win)
Coming off a thrashing of the Washington Capitals, the Flyers took to the ice against the Panthers in what would be another high-scoring game for the boys from Philadelphia.
It took until the second period for any goals to get on the board for the Flyers, but when they did score, it was Sean Couturier scoring his fourth goal of the season just over a minute into the period. Shayne Gostisbehere then scored after rushing up the ice and playing a game of catch with Wayne Simmonds to make it 2-0. Robert Hagg recorded the first point of his career on this play, as he got the secondary assist. Claude Giroux would then score his fourth goal of the season on the power play as chaos was happening in the Philadelphia end. With Michael Neuvirth entangled with a few players, Valtteri Filppula found Giroux via a stretch pass, and Giroux finished the play with a goal through Roberto Luongo’s five-hole to make it 3-0. With under four minutes left in the period, a beautiful between-the-legs drop pass from Nolan Patrick found Dale Weise who put it home to make it 4-0.
In the third, Jame McGinn would score late in the game to make it 4-1. The final goal was scored on an empty net by Fillpula; after losing a faceoff, Filppula watched the puck make its way from the neutral zone all the way to the net. Although he never touched the puck, Filppula was credited with the goal.
Giroux, Gostisbhere, and Filppula ended the game with two points each. Michael Neuvirth made 40 saves en route to the win.
Thursday, October 19, 2017 – VS Nashville Predators (1-0 loss)
In perhaps the most frustrating game of the season, the Flyers lost to the Predators, 6-5, a few weeks ago in Nashville. This time, the Predators traveled to Philadelphia in what ended up being another frustrating loss for the Flyers. The only goal of the game was scored early in the third period by Colton Sissons on the rush. His shot flew by the slightly left-leaning Brian Elliott to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. This would hold until the end of the game. The Flyers went 0-for-5 on the power play in this game, including one where they pulled the goalie to give them a 6-on-5 advantage.
Claude Giroux had three shots during the game, second on the team.
Saturday, October 21, 2017 – VS Edmonton Oilers (2-1 win)
To cap off their week, the Flyers played host to the Oilers in their fourth straight home game.
In the first period, the Flyers got an early power play thanks to a high sticking call on Brad Malone. Claude Giroux, strolling behind the net, was found by a touch pass from Wayne Simmonds. With some time to control the puck, Giroux’s shot rose over Cam Talbot and into the back of the net to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
In the second period, Patrick Maroon, a former player in the Flyers’ system, scored on a shot that probably should’ve been stopped. Brian Elliott, not expecting such a quick release from Maroon, was not quick enough to get into the butterfly position, and the puck made its way through his five-hole to tie the game at one.
The game-winning goal came with 2:15 minutes left in the game when Wayne Simmonds scored. Valtteri Filppula slid the puck to Simmonds on the far-side, and Simmonds’ shot was too quick for a sprawling Talbot. This gave the Flyers the lead and eventual win, 2-1.
Simmonds’ goal with his fourth game-winning goal of the season. Elliott was strong, besides that one mishap; he saved 23 shots.
Notes
Matt Read was called up by the Flyers following his stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms during the week… Jori Lehtera suited up for his first game with Philadelphia against Nashville… Jordan Weal and Taylor Leier both missed the game against Edmonton with upper-body injuries… Andrew MacDonald will be sidelined for four-to-six weeks following an lower-body injury he suffered against Edmonton.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (5-1-0-1, 11 points, 2nd in Atlantic)
Friday, October 20, 2017 – VS Bridgeport Sound Tigers (5-2 win)
Sitting at 3-1-0-1, the Phantoms had started their season at the same level they were at last season. Against Bridgeport, they kept up their efforts with a 5-2 win.
In the first period, Greg Carey got the Phantoms on the board with a wrist shot that went over Bridgeport goalie Kristers Gudlevskis’ strong-side shoulder.
In the second period, Lehigh Valley expanded on their lead when Danick Martel scored his sixth goal of the season. Blowing by Kyle Burroughs, Martel whipped a shot by Gudlevskis on the breakaway. Just a few minutes later, Chris Conner scored his first goal of the season, while shorthanded, to make it 3-0.
In the third period, the Sound Tigers started to mount a comeback, scoring two goals in quick succession just seven minutes into the period. Former Phantom Ben Holmstrom scored the Sound Tigers’ second goal. With just over two minutes left in the game, Danick Martel scored his second goal of the game to give the Phantoms some comfortable space. Phil Varone scored an empty-netter to seal the game for the Phantoms, 5-2.
Mark Alt had three assists. Martel, in addition to his two goals, had an assist.
Saturday, October 21, 2017 – @ Binghamton Devils (4-3 win)
The Phantoms continued their game-winning streak with a fourth consecutive win on Saturday against the Binghamton Devils.
In the first period, the Devils got on the board first, thanks to Blake Pietila. Not to leave the opening period with a deficit, the Phantoms scored twice in two minutes to take a 2-1. Corban Knight and Mark Alt both got their first goals of the season to give the Phantoms that advantage. Just two minutes before the period ended, however, Bracken Kearns scored to tie the game at two. With six seconds left, Samuel Morin would score his first goal of the season to help the Phantoms take a 3-2 lead into the intermission. In the final 5:24 seconds of the first period, five goals were scored.
The next bit of scoring didn’t come until the third period. Nicholas Aube-Kubel scored halfway through the final frame to give the Phantoms a two-goal advantage, 4-2. The Devils would begin to pressure mightily in the period, out-shooting the Phantoms 13-to-5, and Brandon Gignac scored with 2:34 minutes left to make it 4-3. The late push didn’t work, and the Phantoms won 4-3.
Samuel Morin had two points in this game.
Notes
The Phantoms lost NHL veteran Matt Read to the Flyers this week, as the parent club recalled him from his loan to Lehigh Valley… The Phantoms have won four straight games… Danick Martel is one point off the league lead and is tied for first in goals.
Hershey Bears (1-4-0-1, 3 points, 7th in Atlantic)
Friday, October 20, 2017 – @ Milwaukee Admirals (4-1 Loss)
Visiting Milwaukee for the first time in around a decade, the Bears continued their losing ways.
In the first period, Tyler Kelleher scored to put the Admirals in front just a few seconds into their power play. Unmarked in the slot, his weak shot got by Parker Milner to put the Admirals up 1-0. Wayne Simpson would score his first goal as a member of the Bears a few minutes later as his shot from the top of the circle went by Anders Lindback to tie the game. Unfortauntely for the Bears, this was the best thing that happened for them in this game. The Admirals scored three times over the next two periods to win, 4-1. Harry Zolnierczyk scored in the final three minutes on the empty net to take away any chance of a Bears comeback.
Simpson was the only player to tally a point. Milner made 22 saves on 25 shots.
Saturday, October 21, 2017 – @ Grand Rapids Griffins (4-2 win)
Of course, the first win of the season for the Bears had to come against the defending Calder Cup champions, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
In the first period, the Griffins got on the board first as the puck made its way to Colin Campbell, who promptly slotted it by Adam Carlson, making his first start for the Bears.
In the second period, Hershey would start their trek to score three unanswered goals. Chandler Stephenson scored, shorthanded, on a play that looked like he fooled the defense of Grand Rapids by turning on his speed as he entered the offensive zone.
In the third period, Garrett Mitchell would score his first goal of the season via a cross-crease pass from Chris Bourque to put the Bears up 2-1. Stephenson would then score his second off the stick of Dylan McIlrath to make it 3-1. Just a minute later, Matt Ford scored due to Carlson being unable to control a rebound to make it 3-2. It took a review to confirm the goal, but in the end, the goal stood. Hershey kept pressuring, out-shooting Grand Rapids 16-to-6 in the final period, and their hard work led to Chandler Stephenson scoring his third goal of the game for a hat trick to make it 4-2 in the final minutes of the game.
Stephenson ended the night with four points. Riley Barber and Bourque had two points each. Carlson saved 24 shots.
Sunday, October 22, 2017 – @ Rockford Ice Hogs (5-0 loss)
The Bears came back down to earth following their win over the Griffins, as they lost in terrible fashion to the Ice Hogs. Rockford would score twice in the first period, once in the second and twice in the third to comfortably win the game, 5-0. Hershey wasn’t able to capitalize on numerous power play opportunities and even saw their captain, Garrett Mitchell, get a 10-minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike behavior in the second period. All in all, in a poor Bears season so far, this was the low-point.
Parker Milner saved 28 shots on 33 attempts. Riley Barber had a team-high seven shots. Garrett Mitchell had 14 penalty minutes. The Bears were out-shot 33-to-23.
Notes
Chandler Stephenson and Chris Bourque have been the lone standouts for the Bears this season, both having six points to their name… Stephenson has five goals this season, comfortably leading the team… The Bears have given up 27 goals in just six games for an average of 4.5 goals per game.
Upcoming games
Philadelphia Flyers – Tuesday, 10/24 VS Anaheim Ducks; Thursday, 10/26 @ Ottawa Senators; Saturday, 10/28 @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Lehigh Valley Phantoms – Wednesday, 10/25 VS Springfield Thunderbirds; Friday, 10/27 @ Springfield Thunderbirds; Saturday, 10/28 VS Hartford Wolf Pack
Hershey Bears – Friday, 10/27 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins; Saturday, 10/28 VS Providence Bruins; Sunday, 10/29 VS Hartford Wolf Pack
Originally published on GNGHockey.com