PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers(37-24-12) and Dallas Stars (44-18-12) earned a massive two points in overtime on Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena as Trevor Zegras called game for the 2-1 win.
Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras scored for the Flyers. Arttu Hyry scored for the Stars.
After a slow first period, the Flyers struck first on the power play in the second period, before giving up a short-handed goal before the middle frame ended. Neither team scored in the third period, forcing overtime after each team played and traveled the night before. Finally, the Flyers earned their massive two points, ending the game in overtime.
Here’s how we got to the final score.
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Boring first period ends in scoreless tie
After a slow start, the Flyers got the first real chances 3:34 into the game after Wyatt Johnston picked up a two-minute penalty for tripping. That put the Flyers on the power play. After scoring two goals on Saturday night, the Flyers were held scoreless on their first attempt.
Noah Cates had a good chance from the slot that went wide. Owen Tippett generated a great look for Denver Barkey, who hit the post. That was it for the power play.
The Star began to dominate possession, but did not get many shots on Ersson. Just over five minutes after they killed off the Johnston penalty, the Stars got their first power play of the game. Dallas held the zone for over a minute, looking dangerous, before the Flyers got their first clear. After that, they were never really able to reestablish. Philly got the much-needed kill.
The Flyers followed the kill with a good possession from Zegras, Konecny, and Owen Tippett with Drysdale and Andrae on the ice. However, they could not score. Then, on the other end, Sam Ersson robbed Bunting with a glove save.
Within the final two minutes, Travis Sanheim sent a shot in with Christian Dvorak in front for the redirection, but it went wide.
The Flyers had some good chances in the first period, but the first period ended scoreless. Dallas had the edge in shots, 7-4.
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Flyers score, Stars tie it
Dvorak opened the second period with a good chance in close, but Casey DeSmith handled the chance.
The Flyers came alive in the second period, getting five shots on goal before the Stars could get one. Dallas had a chance after Sanheim could not corral a pass in the defensive zone, but Philly’s blueliner stuck with the play, and Dallas did not get the shot off.
Philly had its second power play of the game around the halfway mark of the period. They pulled off some fancy passing, creating great looks, but nothing was going in. With time dwindling down, Travis Konecny (26) got the puck down low and wrapped around the front of the net, beating DeSmith for the score. Matvei Michkov (24) and Ristolainen (9) got the assists on the game-opening score.
The Flyers kept pushing following the goal, and nearly scored again. Konecny set up a great opportunity for Carl Grunstrom, which was saved by DeSmith. Trevor Zegras had a wide-open second-chance effort, but rang the iron instead. The Stars were able to keep the damage to a minimum.
Konecny drew the Flyers’ third power play of the game with 3:33 to go in the second. Johnston hooked the winger who was trying to break free on a breakaway. It wasn’t the Flyers who scored on this power play.
It looked like Denver Barkey and Owen Tippett got crossed up at the blueline. The puck went into the defensive zone. Arttu Hyry (1) scored the short-handed goal and tied the game at 1. That brought the game to the second intermission tied.
Scoreless third forces overtime
The Flyers came out of the second break like a team trailing by two scores. They were playing fast, strong, and aggressively, looking to regain the lead.
There were a couple of good chances early in the period, but nothing came from them. Garnet Hathaway tried to spark something with a fantastic shift and laid a big hit on Adam Erne, but the Flyers could not capitalize on the momentum from the hit.
Still, Philly pushed the pace and controlled the period. Against a Dallas Stars team that thrives at shot suppression, Philly put together a solid start to the third period. That continued into the latter half of the period, but still, no dice.
Travis Konecny started to take things into his own hands in the final 5 minutes of regulation, doing everything for the Flyers. He had multiple breakaways and good looks from the slot, but could not get one to go.
Dallas had a chance to shift the momentum after a flukey penalty on Zegras. With 2:48 to go, Erne almost kicked Zegras’ stick, which then got caught in his skate. Erne went down and drew the trip.
Sam Ersson electrified the building with a huge pad save on a backdoor attempt from Johnston. That kept the game even and was a major contributor to the massive penalty kill. The kill kept Dallas off the board and forced overtime on Sunday.
Flyers win it in overtime
The Flyers won the opening draw, allowing them to set up and control possession. They only got one shot off before the Stars had their turn. That did not amount to anything before the Flyers went the other way. Once again, it was a one-and-done.
With Harley, Duchene, and Robertson on the ice, the Stars set up a slow possession.
A great diving play by Noah Cates saved Ersson from having to face a high-danger look.
Owen Tippett ripped a big shot on DeSmith, but the Stars’ goalie smothered it.
The Flyers had to reset, then Trevor Zegras did the rest. Zegras (23) was sprung on a rush by Cam York (22) and Sam Ersson (1). He went five-hole on DeSmith, beating the Stars’ goalie and ending the game 2-1.
What’s Next
The Flyers will head down to Washington, D.C., for a short one-game road trip, taking on the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.