PHILADELPHIA, Pa- Ending their disappointing season on Saturday afternoon, the Philadelphia Flyers welcomed the Ottawa Senators to Wells Fargo Center ice for the 2014-2015 season finale.
Meeting just two times prior to the season finale, Flyers and Senators spilt the series with one game each, both ending in a shootout out. The Senators came into Philadelphia in much need of one point to clinch playoff contention.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Taking his stance in between the pipes, Steve Mason guarded the net. Across the ice for the Senators, Andrew Hammond prepared.
Prior to puck drop, the Flyers issued their annual team awards.
Voted by the players, Chris Vandevelde was awarded the “Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Award” for most improved player.
Presented the “Barry Ashbee Trophy” for the best defenseman, Mark Streit was awarded. Known as the “good guy” on and off the ice, Streit was also gives the “Yanick Dupre Memorial Trophy.”
“Toyota Cup Award,” most star of the game points, for the fourth consecutive year went home with Captain Claude Giroux.
Proclaimed the player who has the most heart, Jakub Voracek went home with the “Gene Hart Memorial Award.” Also being rewarded the well deserved “Bobby Clarke Trophy,” the most valuable player, Voracek was honored.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Taking a seat in the penalty box early in the first period, Michael Raffl was guilty of high sticking, sending the Senators on the power play.
Mishandling the puck, Mason was out of the net. Scoring his 25th goal on the wide open net, Mark Stone gave the Senators an early lead.
Getting a power play chance of their own with Mark Borowiecki in the box, the Flyers could not come up with a goal.
As the clock clicked down to zero, Nicklas Grossmann was charged with holding, giving the Senators another mad advantage. Struggling to keep control of the puck, Ottawa couldn’t not score before the horn sounded.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Beginning the second period with 24 seconds on the power play, the Senators were not successful.
Wasting no time in the period, Brayden Schenn found the puck on his stick, sliding the puck in front of Hammond to Matt Read. Scoring his 8th goal of the season, Read tied the game.
Getting mixed with with Jean-Gabriel Pageau in front of Mason, Brayden Schenn and Pageau pushed and shoved. Being dealt the only penalty, Schenn took a seat for roughing. Stopping the Senators on the man-advantage, the contest was still tied at 1.
Scoring 12 seconds later, Pageau sent the puck into the Flyers net, slipping the puck past Mason for the 2-1 lead.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
With the second period coming to a close, Flyers out shot the Senators 30-13.
Starting the third period in a quiet fashion, Senators held onto the lead.
Rushing into Mason, Stone had the puck on his stick. Scoring his second goal of the day and his 26th of the season, Stone increased the lead 3-1.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
With one minute remaining in the regular season, the Flyers could not make the come back.
Taking the 3-1 win over the Flyers, the Ottawa Senators clinched the playoffs.
Saluting the fans on Wells Fargo Center one last time, the Flyers season was officially over.
“Overall in the year, we were inconsistent,” said Mason. “That is something going into next season we have to be better to get back in the playoffs. We have to use the summer to focus on making sure we come back better players.”
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Coming out of the season with 81 points under his belt, Voracek said, “Everybody’s upset. We know we had to finish the season strong and unfortunately, lost the last two games. It’s tough right now, but it’s a learning process.”
Unhappy with the ending place of his club, Giroux stated, “This is tough. Tough to take, but they’ve been playing very well, lately and it’s a reason why they’re in the playoffs. The last 20 games they were the hottest team in the league. It’s tough to watch.”
With the fate of his coaching career on the line, head coach Craig Berube said, “Missing the playoffs is a very disappointing feeling for everybody. Watching it and stuff, it’s the best time of the year.”
The Flyers have missed the playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons.
Reported on Friday, Flyers signed defenseman Brandon Manning to one-year, one-way contraction extension at $625,000 through the 2015-2016 season.
What’s up next for the Flyers? With the 2014-2015 season in the books, the orange and black are trading in their hockey sticks for golf clubs as their disappointing season concluded.
Hoping to add young talent to the their system, the Flyers have a total of seven draft picks in the 2015 NHL Entry draft, two picks in the first round.
With possible changes to come this offseason, the Flyers will have their exiting interviews along with locker clean out on Monday before hitting reset for next year.
Until next season…
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