Flyers Analysis: Tired Legs, In-Game Line Changes, & the Impact of No Tippett

James Guillory-Imagn Images James Guillory-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers took on the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of their best-of-7 series and fell 3-0 at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hurricanes goaltender Freddie Anderson blanked the Flyers with his 19-save shutout. The Hurricanes had a week off after sweeping the Ottawa Senators, while the Flyers had two days in between the end of Round 1 and the start of Round 2 – the cost of no NHL games on a Saturday night.

Logan Stankoven scored in the first 91 seconds of the game for the Hurricanes, taking advantage of early momentum. Jackson Blake extended the lead 6 minutes later. From there, the Hurricanes just kept bottling up every Flyers offensive chance.

Philadelphia was held to just 9 shots on goal through 40 minutes of hockey. Anderson was never really tested. With their backs against the wall, the Flyers did have their best period of the game in the 3rd, in more than just shot totals.

The Flyers looked like they had come to life a little bit and found their answer to the swarming Hurricanes’ checking. They had 10 shots in the 3rd period, but a 6-on-4 power play certainly helps. Still, they simply looked like a different hockey team at that point.