PHILADELPHIA – With their playoff lives drifting away, the Philadelphia Flyers took on the San Jose Sharks on Saturday afternoon, for the final meeting of the season.
The illness and injury bug has officially hit the struggling Flyers once again. Losing Wayne Simmonds and Andrew MacDonald for the remainder of the season, after suffering injuries late in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday, the orange and black recalled reinforcements.
Coming up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Oliver Lauridsen, Mark Alt and Brandon Manning we assigned for an emergency basis.
Making his way back in the line up with Simmonds injured, Vincent Lecavalier made his appearance after being a healthy scratch for the last three games. Prior to puck drop, Flyers announced Carlo Colaiacovo and Mark Streit would not be in the line up due to flu-like symptoms.
Last meeting on December 2nd in San Jose, Sharks took the 2-1 win over the Flyers.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Finding his position in net, Steve Mason guarded the pipes for Philadelphia with Alex Stalock taking his stance for San Jose.
Guilty of tripping early in the first period, Nick Schultz took a seat in the penalty box giving the Sharks the first power play of the game. Unable to reproduce, the game remained scoreless.
Getting in his 8th goal of the season, Matt Irwin got the Sharks on the score board, 1-0.
Answering back quickly, Michael Raffl found himself in front of the net. Deflecting Nicklas Grossmann’s shot on Stalock, Raffl slipped the puck in the net. Scoring his 20th of the season, the game was tied at one.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Heading to the penalty box for holding, Grossmann looked on.
Sending the puck on net, Joe Pavelski slipped the puck through Mason’s legs as the whistle blew. With the goal under review, the verdict stood a good goal. Celebrating on the Sharks bench, Pavelski notched his 36th of the year.
As the clock clicked down to zero, San Jose had the 2-1 lead as the first period came to a close.
Earning their first man advantage, Philadelphia went to the power play midway through the second period. Struggling to control the puck, no goals were scored.
Taking Tommy Wingles into the boards, Ryan White was named the guilty party. With pushing and shoving along the glass, White made his way to the sin bin for boarding. Giving the Sharks their third man advantage opportunity of the game.
With a successful penalty kill, Flyers shut the Sharks down.
As a goalless period came to an end, Sharks held onto the 2-1 lead.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Heading to the penalty box in the third period, Scott Hannan took a seat for hooking. Going on the man advantage, Flyers took control.
Receiving the puck from Jakub Voracek, Claude Giroux sent the puck flying. Netting in his 23rd goal of the season on the power play, Giroux tied the game.
With a clean hit against the boards by Nick Cousins, Hannan went down on the ice. Receiving medical attention for a cut on his face, Hannan headed down the Sharks tunnel.
As pushing and shoving continued in the neutral zone, Laurisden and John Scott were dealt game misconducts. With players escorted off the ice, the game went on.
Image By Lewis Bleiman
Unable to net in a game winning goal, the contest headed to overtime.
Testing Mason, San Jose had ample opportunities.
Checking Irwin into the boards, Brayden Schenn was sent to the penalty box for boarding. Clearing the zone, Flyers held off the shorthanded 2 minutes.
As the 5 minutes expired, a skills competition would claim a victor.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Shooting first for Philadelphia, Voracek took the ice. Skating in on Stalock, Voracek was patience with the puck. Sending the puck top shelf, Voracek scored.
Taking the ice for San Jose, Logan Couture made his attempt. Stopping Couture, Flyers had the 1-0 lead.
On the ice for round 3, Stalock held off Matt Read. Up for the Sharks, Melker Karlsson skated down the ice. Notching a point for the Sharks, Karlsson scored.
Stopped in the fifth round of shooting, Vincent Lecavalier was denied. With the game on his stick, Brent Burns danced his way towards Mason. Winning the game for the Sharks, Burns slipped the puck past the crease.
The Philadelphia Flyers took the 3-2 shootout loss against the San Jose Sharks.
Image By Lewis Bleiman
With six games remaining in Philadelphia’s disappointing season, the Flyers are hitting the road for their final two games of the season.
Beginning the road trip across the state of Pennsylvania, the orange and black will face off against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night. Before returning home for the four games, the Flyers will make the trip to Raleigh to visit the Carolina Hurricanes.
Puck drop between the Battle of Pennsylvania is slated for 8 p.m.
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