For 40 minutes, it looked like the Flyers were going to claim their first win of the season after falling to the Bruins and Devils in back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, the Montreal Canadiens had other ideas on Saturday night. The Canadiens down 3-0 coming out into the third period were able to rally from a three-goal deficit to defeat the Flyers 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday.
Flyers’ goalie Ray Emery was left out to dry in the third period and overtime on Saturday as the Canadiens out-shot the Flyers 20-5 through the two periods. Andrei markov, Tomas Plekanec, and Alex Galchenyuk would all contribute for the Canadiens in their comeback but forward P.A Parenteau who the Canadiens acquired this offseason was the hero as he put the game winner in the back of the net in the shootout.
The loss puts the Flyers in an 0-2-1 hole, three games into the season, the third consecutive season that the team has failed to win one of their first three games. Last season, former head coach and current Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette was fired and replaced with Craig Berbue. While Berube isn’t on the hot seat just yet, it could be only a matter of time if the Flyers continue to lose.
There were a few bright spots for the Flyers on Saturday including forward Wayne Simmonds, who for the second straight night had a two-goal game, collecting his third and fourth goals of the year. Forward Mike Raffl also scored for the Flyers, originally giving them their 1-0 lead that Wayne Simmonds would extend to 3-0 with his two goals.
Simmonds two goals on Saturday gave him his 75th and 76th career goals in the organization, which ranks him 41st in Flyers history. Simmonds who scored 29 goals last season, is looking to be the Flyers’ top scoring threat this season as he looks to make his first career all-star game.
Ray Emery had an outstanding performance considering the circumstances of the Flyers’ defensive efforts throughout the third period. The momentum shifting period saw the Canadiens unleash 19 shots, matching their first and second period efforts combined. The 19 shots often resulted in rebounds that the Canadiens easily put into the back of the net.
The Flyers’ lack of depth at the defenseman position showed throughout the third period on Saturday and with Kimmo Timonen’s career in jeopardy and Braydon Coburn potentially being out long term with a “lower-body injury”, the Flyers could be in serious trouble.
The Flyers will most likely call up Mark Alt or Brandon Manning within the next few days depending on the diagnosis of Braydon Coburn’s undisclosed lower-body injury. While they do have top prospect Shayne Gostisbehere, the Flyers will look for depth and experience while allowing Gostisbehere to develop his game in the AHL.
The Flyers will look to take not just one point, but two points next Tuesday when the Anaheim Ducks come to Philadelphia. The Ducks won their game on Saturday against the Red Wings 3-2, and will play the Buffalo Sabres on Monday before traveling to Philadelphia.
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