The Flyers' first playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center since May 8, 2012 was anything but a rousing success Tuesday night.
Instead of capitalizing on Sunday’s momentum of evening the series in New York, the Flyers got toasted, 4-1, by the Rangers.
New York dominated in blocked shots and got a timely assist in the final period when Scott Hartnell's shot hit Henrik Lundqvist's stick and dinged off the left post and crossbar with the Flyers behind 3-1.
A goal there, who knows what happens next.
Ray Emery looked shaky much of the game. He struggled with little things, like footwork and losing pucks he had under control.
The defining moment for him, however, was failing to make a glove save on Dan Girardi’s point shot in the second period that gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
Emery saw the shot the entire way, stuck his glove up and the puck sailed over his left shoulder to hit the netting. That was a crucial save the Flyers absolutely needed to get and didn’t.
Coach Craig Berube put Steve Mason in goal for the final 7:15 of the game, no doubt, to get him some game action and find out if he is truly ready and healthy for Game 4 on Friday.
Game 3
The Flyers are 14-20 in the playoffs when losing Game 3.
Strike first
Despite a very strong start by the Flyers, it was the Rangers who lit the lamp first. Rick Nash took a flick wrister from the left of Emery and it went off his glove hand, dropping at Derek Stepan’s feet. He had an easy rebound at 3:54 for a 1-0 Rangers lead.
First goal loses
Coming into the game, in the Flyers’ previous 13 playoff games, the team that scored first also lost the game.
Déjà vu
Just like Game 2 on Sunday in New York, the Flyers fell behind 2-0 early. The Rangers' top unit struck again at 10:24 when Girardi’s point shot hit Nash and was deflected by Marty St. Louis. Nothing Emery could do about it, either.
Penalties
The Flyers talked about better team discipline and not giving the Rangers another six power plays like they did in New York in each of the first two games of the series. Well, Wayne Simmonds had a high-stick and Scott Hartnell got tagged for boarding in the first period. As bad as that was, the Rangers’ Benoit Pouliot twice broke up a Rangers power play with dumb penalties -- a cross-check, then a hold. It was a huge break for the Flyers in the opening period.
Outplayed
The Flyers started strong for five minutes and then were badly outplayed the remainder of the first period. Mark Streit got them on the board at 17:18 with a 4-on-4 goal off a rush that began with Claude Giroux, to breathe life into them and the building.
Defensive scoring
The Flyers' defense has three goals in the series.
Second period
Emery stuck his glove out at 5:17 to snare Girardi’s high rocket shot from the right point and basically missed it. That play, which made it 3-1, caught the Flyers in a line change that allowed the Rangers to have numbers on the Flyers coming into the zone.
His first shot
Giroux finally got one in the series at 6:23 of the middle stanza. He went 146:23 in the series without an official shot on goal. It came on his 81st shift in the series.
Blocked shots
The Rangers have done an excellent job in the series blocking shots. Sticks forever in the passing lanes, as well as shooting lanes. During a long delayed penalty in the second period, the best open shot the Flyers took was blocked out of play. Through two periods, New York had 18 blocks.
Power play
The Flyers were 0 for 5 on the man advantage. The Rangers went 0 for 4.
Faceoffs
Through two periods, the Flyers had a slight edge on the Rangers: 51 percent to 49 percent.
Fights
Jakub Voracek beat up on Carl Hagelin in the second period but, strangely, both players were given minors for roughing.
Scratches
Defensemen Hal Gill and Erik Gustafsson; forwards Jay Rosehill, Tye McGinn, Steve Downie, and Chris VandeVelde; goalie Cal Heeter.
Black Aces
Defensemen Brandon Manning, Oliver Lauridsen and Mark Alt; forwards Ben Holmstrom, Nick Cousins, Brandon Alderson, Petr Straka; goalie Yann Danis.