You have to go back to December to last find an opponent the Flyers played who were beneath them in the standings.
Which means Mike Babcock’s Toronto Maple Leafs, as bad as they are, represented a legit threat Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center. Sure enough, the Flyers lost 3-2 with 7.5 seconds left in regulation on traffic at the net with a shot from the point.
That ended their six-game point streak. Matt Hunwick scored the game-winner.
Things looked easy early-on. The Flyers had a 10-1 shot advantage in the opening period before scoring on their 11th shot during a power play.
That was a tease, as they would find out.
Unlike most of their home games this season, the Flyers weren’t very competitive until the very end.
Trailing 2-1 in the third period with things looking hopeless, rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere picked off a puck in the defensive end, came up ice three-on-one, glanced to his right, then beat goalie James Reimer to tie the game.
Ghost leads all rookie defensemen with eight goals.
Hits
Despite serving a five-minute major for fighting in the same period, Brayden Schenn had four hits in the opening period to lead the Flyers.
Misses
R.J. Umberger keeps shooting and keeps trying. He has not scored in 47 consecutive games now. He missed a fat part of an open net in the second period in this one. He hit the netting behind instead.
Coach’s challenge
Dave Hakstol challenged the Leafs’ go-ahead goal (2-1) in the second period because of an offsides and won to keep the game tied at 1-1.
Notable goals
Toronto had a couple chances for a go-ahead goal in the second stanza but finally scored at 15:10 on Joffrey Lupul’s open shot in the slot during a delayed penalty.
Goalie report
Steve Mason’s misplay on a puck cover-up near the first period’s end saw Roman Polak tap one in under his glove to make it a 1-1 game.
Power play
Just as their first power play ended, the Flyers got a goal on their third attempt and 11th overall that first period from Matt Read on a backhander at the net. Their second power play late in the second period when they were trailing and needed a goal was terrible. No zone time, turnovers, no pressure, etc. Which is why the Flyers are 29th in the NHL in power-play efficiency.
Penalty kill
Evgeny Medvedev had a second-period stick save at the net on P.A. Parenteau’s shot to save a goal that would have broken a 1-1 tie at that point. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who logs decent time on the PK, had a terrible game, committing three penalties himself.
Fights
Dion Phaneuf decisioned Schenn in the first period.
Scratches
Defenseman Brandon Manning and forward Jordan Weal. Both were healthy.
Up next
The Flyers will practice at the Skate Zone on Wednesday morning and then leave for Pittsburgh, where they face the Penguins for the first time this season on Thursday.