RALEIGH, N.C. — It was “team first” when the Flyers faced off against the Hurricanes on Tuesday in the two clubs' final matchup of the season.
While the effort and execution were there, playing a five-man game in the defensive and offensive zones, the 3-1 losing outcome wasn’t the one the Flyers were looking for. With the win, the Hurricanes extended their lead over the Flyers in the chase for a wild-card spot to three points.
Against one of the league’s most effective forechecking teams, the Flyers started with good spacing defensively, put their bodies and sticks in front of as many Carolina shots as possible and forced turnovers to transition into the offense.
It worked through 40 minutes of play, but multiple impressive stops from Hurricanes keeper Cam Ward and a giveaway and a few bad bounces worked to Carolina’s favor.
A strong third period created more quality scoring chances, but not enough to even the score and have a chance at earning a single point against an equally hungry divisional foe.
Rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere didn't register a point in the loss and had his record-setting point streak snapped at 15 games.
NHL
Ghost busted
Though the streak comes to an end, Ghost's run puts him in some elite company.
The 15-game streak is a record for a rookie defenseman and the longest for any rookie in Flyers history. It's tied for the longest run by a defenseman since Chris Chelios reached the number back in 1995-96. It's also the second-longest streak in the league this season behind only Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (26 games).
Forecheck leads to scoring chances
The Flyers found enough room to cross the blue line with possession and generated scoring chances throughout, outshooting Carolina 37-18.
Notable goals
A turnover initiated by Radko Gudas in the defensive zone led to a clean breakout by Matt Read and eventually to Scott Laughton for the game’s first goal, his fifth of the season, and first since Dec. 19. His low shot from the top of the right circle deflected off Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin’s blade and made it between Ward’s pads. Laughton extended his point-scoring streak to three games (one goal, three assists).
Goalie report
Michal Neuvirth was mobile, put himself in the right positions and held off Carolina’s many shots and redirects for most of the game. That allowed the Flyers to transition out of the zone cleanly on most occasions, with one exception (see Giveaways).
Notable saves
A big pad save on a point-black slap shot from Jeff Skinner at the 14:49 mark of the second maintained the 1-0 lead. That was soon followed up by back-to-back stops on the penalty kill.
Giveaways
While holding steady in the crease, Neuvirth’s attempt to clear the puck up the boards backfired as he directly fed it to Carolina’s Joakim Nordstrom, who had nothing but net to hit and tied it up 1-1 at 8:09 of the second period.
Bad bounces
Neuvirth was caught out of position as the puck unexpectedly bounced off the referee in the corner to his left following a dump-in from the blue line. That allowed Jordan Staal to give Carolina the 2-1 lead with 1:34 to go in the second. After making a blocker save on Jay McClement’s shot, the puck bounced up and over Neuvirth before Eric Staal batted it out of midair and into the net with 5:49 to go.
Power play
Gaining the zone came easily enough, but maintaining possession to set up quality shots on Ward with the extra skater was inconsistent and resulted in a 0-for-3 finish on the night. The best sequence came in the third period, but Sean Couturier’s shot didn’t get the desired finish.
Penalty kill
A perfect 3-for-3 finish with no consequence to Wayne Simmonds’ unsportsmanlike penalty in the first, Read’s tripping violation in the second, nor Couturier’s hooking infraction in the third.
Injuries
Claude Giroux was the most significant scratch, but in his absence Couturier returned to the lineup and skated 22 minutes and put two shots on goal.
Fights
It got chippy following Nordstrom’s tying goal in the second and following a Ward save early in the third, but nothing more than that.
Scratches
Giroux, (upper body) and R.J. Umberger, along with defenseman Evgeny Medvedev (healthy).
Up next
The Flyers return home to prepare to face the Minnesota Wild on Thursday in the first of a five-game homestand.