Flyers Now Lose 3 in a Row With A Rough Loss to Washington

The Philadelphia Flyers traveled to Washington D.C. to face the Washington Capitals looking to stop the losing and they were unsuccessful in doing so. The Flyers lost by a score of 5-2 and it was a very uninspiring game to say the least. There was no sustained play in the offensive zone for the Flyers and there was too much for the Capitals. 

The Flyers had no juice for the first two periods and it cost them in the long run. Both goals that the Flyers scored got immediately answered by Washington. The Flyers had a chance in the 3rd with Matvei Michkov again scoring on the power play but after another Washington goal and then the Flyers unable to score on a 6 on 4 opportunity, Washington shut the game down with an empty net goal.

Game Breakdown

1st Period

The Flyers come out with another slow start and it costs them a goal not even two minutes into the game courtesy of Alex Tuch. The Capitals had a very apparent game plan and that was to attack the slot and that is how they got the lone goal of the period. The Flyers were just hemmed in their own zone for the majority of the period with the Capitals doubling the amount of offensive zone time that the Flyers had. It was a point of emphasis from Rick Tocchet to protect the slot and they have failed to do that through 1 period. On the offensive side there are too many one and done opportunities and that shows in the offensive zone time. There were no multi chance possessions for the Flyers and there were too many for the Capitals which seems to be the theme of the season for this Flyers team.   

2nd Period

Another rough period of play for the Flyers as they get a goal with a tip in from Sean Couturier for his first of the year, but give up 2 with a power play goal from Jordan Kyrou and a late tip in from Aliaksei Protas. The Capitals got three straight power plays and the Flyers were not able to get any sustained momentum for the entire period. They looked like just a team who did not have it in the period, losing every puck battle and being slower to every puck. Washington just looked like the more confident and dominant team and the Flyers were seemingly playing just to get back to the locker room.

3rd Period

The Flyers had a decent start to the 3rd period but just could not get the sustained play that they needed. About halfway through the period Matvei Michkov scored his 9th of the season with this coming on the power play. But a few minutes later Jordan Kyrou killed all momentum for the Flyers and got his 2nd of the night. Flyers then got a 6 on 4 chance down by 2 with the goalie pulled but could not capitalize and Washington was able to with the goalie pulled to give them a 3 goal lead and make it the final score 5-2.

Box Score

1st

WSH: Alex Tuch Goal (8), assists: Dylan Strome (7), Jack St. Ivany (1) 1:50

2nd

PHI: Sean Couturier Goal (1), assists: Nick Seeler (4) 4:36

WSH: Jordan Kyrou PP Goal (3), assists: Dylan Strome (8), Jakob Chychrun (7) 7:14

WSH: Aliaksei Protas Goal (1), assists: Matt Roy (1), Pierre-Luc Dubois (4) 16:47

3rd

PHI: Matvei Michkov PP Goal (9), assists: Denver Barkey (5), Trevor Zegras (9) 9:44

WSH: Jordan Kyrou Goal (4), assists: Dylan Strome (9), Jack St. Ivany (2) 12:51

WSH: Alex Tuch Goal (9), assists: Pierre-Luc Dubois (5) 17:36

By the Numbers

Shots

PHI: 25

WSH: 30

Saves

PHI: 25

WSH: 23

Faceoffs

PHI: 58%

WSH: 42%

Stars of the Game

1st: Jordan Kyrou 2 Goals

2nd: Dylan Strome 3 Assists

3rd: Jack St. Ivany 2 Assists

Next Game

The Flyers head home to face off against the Utah Mammoth on Sunday November 1st at 4 PM.

Alex Berardis is a Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN, follow him on social media @PhillyLix