You can’t win them all at home, but with a 4 point swing on the line against a frisky Flyers team you’d hope for a better effort than what we got tonight. The Flyers came to the Rock after playing in Long Island last night, while our heroes were back from curb stomping Buffalo.
This game was largely predicated on defensive lapses and questionable calls but the Devils looked a step behind the Flyers all night. While they mounted a comeback effort in the 3rd they eventually fell short, losing in a final of 5-3. Tippet (1g, 2a), Koncny (1g, 1a) and Zegras (1g, 1a) led the way for the Flyers while the Devils saw major contributions from Mercer (1g, 1a) and Bratt (2a).
1st Period: Started Badly/Finished Strong
The Devils were quickly derailed by a phantom high stick by Nemec on Forrester less than a minute into the game. We really need to bring back shame, because that was a Golden Globe worthy performance by Forrester (not giving him the credit for an Oscar), but to the kill we went just :48 seconds in. Fortunately, the boys provided a solid kill but it left the Devils disjointed. The Neutral zone play was particularly sloppy and after a turnover an innocuous looking rush by Dvorak and Tippet quickly turned dangerous. Nemec was slow to stay with Tippet who took a floater in front from Dvorak, dangled past Markstrom and it’s 1-0 them.
The Devils did slowly got some ice back finally getting to their game at about the 11 minute mark. Nico led them in on a slick zone entry, tucking the puck under the defender’s stick to Bratt who cut across the high slot, and left it on a platter for Nemec. With Timo and Nico driving the net dragging the D with them Nemec was cocked and ready, ripping it home off the shoulder of Vladar at 12:09 for his 6th of the year. That goal vaulted him into the top in goals for defenseman this season and puts him on pace for almost 20 goals – truly remarkable.
From there the Devils took control of the first, leading to their first PP opportunity. The best chance came right as the buzzer sounded on a Timo one-time blast from the right circle, but we went to the period tied at 1.
2nd Period: Another Meltdown
The Devils started the 2nd on the power play that didn’t really generate much dangerous. Immediately after our last shot was deflected into the corner, the Flyers caught a break with Michkov flying out of the box, creating a 2-on-1 off a nice stretch pass from the D-Zone. He got the pass from Konecny practically on top of Markstrom, where he was able to sneak through. It looked like Michkov might’ve pushed Markstrom causing the puck too cross the line, but Keefe choose not to challenge, so it’s 2-1 Flyers just 53 seconds into the period. Just a few short minutes later after a brutal D-zone shift for the 4th line, the puck came up to York at the blue line who put Noesen on roller skates, walked a few steps in and left it off for Travis Konecny who wired it home. 3-1 Flyers at 3:16.
Dread was creeping in as it really was looking like we were unraveling again against the Flyers as they added a 4th goal off ANOTHER 2 on 1, shortly after a snakebitten Jesper Bratt hit the post on a breakaway. The Flyers quickly countered as Tippet blew past Nemec on the left wing boards, and floated a nice looking saucer pass over to Zegras who buried it. Markstrom got a little piece, but it was 4-1 Flyers at 13:03.
at 16:04 Dillon and Couturier went off after getting into a conversation about gardening (probably) that started with a reverse hit that Dillon didn’t like. They discussed proper watering patterns in front, perenials around the side, and winter care back in front until Dillon decided to break his stick across Couturier – that led to 4 minutes for Dillon and 2 for Couturier. Shortly in the ensuing Flyers advantage though, The Deivls caught a break at 17:48 as the Flyers were called for too many men, leading to a power play for our boys.
After some good puck movement, great chances for Timo and for Mercer, we finally cashed in with :27 seconds left in the period. Bratt found himself onto the the left wing boards, was able to walk in and shot-pass to Mercer, who tipped it off Vladar’s pad, and Timo found the rebound, burying it short side.
3rd period: Can We Get a Comeback?
Welp, we could not, but it wasn’t without one of the best goals of our season – and an absolute highlight reel play from Dawson Mercer for his 10th of the year. After some tenacious forechecking by Gritsyuk, the Devils kept the pressure on, with Mercer making a stand at the offensive blue line. He rag dolled Trevor Zegras, walked around a diving Seeler AND Zamula before depositing a slick backhand through Vladar’s legs. Just an incredible individual effort that was all started by strong forechecking and a good neutral zone gap from Siegenthaler.
So anyway, the comeback was not to be, albeit we got some great chances to tie it up. The refs missed a blatant high stick on Luke that really could’ve swung this thing, but somehow, someway didn’t see it (even while STANDING RIGHT THERE). I’d love to put the blame on the refs, but this was a poor effort and with the goalie pulled, Nemec fumbled it at the blue line, forcing him to take down Tippet who was awarded the goal as is the rule. 5-3 final, bad guys win.
Some Scattered Thoughts
Luke and Nemec had a brutal game and we might be seeing some fatigue here from 25+ minutes a night. Both were puck watching all night – and were on the ice for all 4 goals each, and probably 3 could be attributed to one of the other’s weak defensive play. The decline in Luke’s play has been steady for the two weeks. He is no longer winning his minutes, and is generating very little offense like he was to start the season. Nemec looked like last year’s Nemec defensively, just too much passivity in both their games tonight. Not sure what the solution is because the alternative is Cholowski.
Markstrom saved what he could, but was largely left out to dry. He still makes me nervous and is absolutely swimming back there. He did make an outrageous glove save that kept it 4-3 in the 3rd. Hopefully we see his game creeping back to where we need it (and never wears the goatee mask again).
The 4th line is borderline unplayable (Lammikko-Glendening-Noesen). Just got buried in their minutes, outshot 7-1, had an xGF of 14.7% in 6:46 of ice time – that 3rd goal against was back breaking. Noesen is a shell of himself.
Glass, Brown, and Cotter didn’t look as bad, but were out shot 4-0 and generated .01 xGs as a line. Going to need more out of a 3rd line than that.
We were largely a two line team, with the Nico line and Mercer line dominating their minutes.
Bratt is still racking up assists, but man this guy needs to bury one. I’m not really going to kill him because he set up 2 of our 3 goals, but burying that breakaway would’ve really changed the tone of this game.
Siegs is a lowkey menace. Every little after whistle scrum or “conversation” there he is right in the middle.
Loved Dillon’s physicality tonight. He was trying to set the tone all night and had a couple of nice big hits. We would be in a world of trouble defensively if he wasn’t playing at the level he is.
There is basically zero wiggle room in Metro. Can’t win them all, and we were going to eventually drop one at home. Not sure what it is about the Flyers, but they have us figured out.
LGD