As the Flyers braced for a matchup with the NHL-worst Toronto Maple Leafs, they were dealt a significant blow. Claude Giroux, their captain and leading scorer, was ruled out with an upper-body injury just hours before puck drop.
Giroux's injury was just one break that they could not catch. They also lost Steve Mason and Evgeny Medvedev in the third period due to injury, and though they carried a 3-2 lead into the third stanza, they headed to their second-consecutive 3-on-3 period and NHL-leading 22nd overtime.
Shayne Gostisbehere, however, gave the Flyers (26-21-11) the second point that they desperately needed with the game-winner just 29 seconds into the extra period. As a result, they left the Great White North with a 5-4 win over the Maple Leafs (20-27-10). Gostisbehere's goal was his fourth overtime winner of the season, and extends his points streak to 15 games.
It looked like the Flyers were off to another slow start, as Shawn Matthias opened the scoring just 1:29 into the game with his sixth goal of the season. A pair of goals from Sam Gagner and Jakub Voracek just 39 seconds apart gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead, which carried over into the first intermission.
Brayden Schenn, who had been penciled in to the top-line center spot in the wake of Giroux's injury, added his 18th goal of the season and second point of the game just 57 seconds into the third period. Nick Spaling countered with his first goal as a Leaf at 11:57 of the second, and as the Flyers concluded with a 23-13 shots advantage, it looked like they would be in cruise control for the rest of the game.
It looked like their lead would extend by two goals when Mark Streit scored early in the third stanza, but Leafs coach Mike Babcock used his coach's challenge for a potential goaltender interference on Schenn. The goal was ultimately overturned for incidental contact — the second such goal that was overturned for the Orange and Black — and the Leafs tied it just seconds later after Peter Holland's ninth goal of the season.
Just over a minute after Holland's goal, Byron Froese gave the Leafs their second lead of the game with his second of the season. It looked like the Flyers would let another game get away from them in the third period.
Thirty-two seconds later, Matt Read tied the game. The Maple Leafs continued to press — recording 11 shots in the period compared to the Flyers' 4 — and the game headed to overtime, where Gostisbehere would continue his heroics.
All four goalies that were available were used — not exactly a common occurrence in today's NHL. Jonathan Bernier was pulled after Schenn's goal, totaling 10 saves on 13 shots, and gave way to James Reimer, who made 13 saves on 15 shots. Mason, who allowed three goals on 14, left shortly after Holland's goal with an injury, and Michal Neuvirth saved nine of 10 in his place.
Mason and Medvedev weren't the only ones to leave due to injury. Referee Ian Walsh also left, after a third-period collision gone awry. The game was subsequently played with one referee (Kevin Pollack) and two linesmen (Scott Cherney and David Brisebois) — essentially, a nod to the game's past.
Referees were not given much work, however, despite the two disallowed goals. Just three penalties were whistled — with the Flyers scoreless on their only man-advantage and Maple Leafs scoreless on two powerplays.
Schenn, Voracek, Michal Raffl, Wayne Simmonds and Scott Laughton all finished with multi-point games. Spaling and Nazem Kadri also scored multiple points for the Leafs.
The Flyers now sit three points behind Pittsburgh for the second wild-card spot. Their three-game road trip concludes on Tuesday in North Carolina, where they face a Carolina Hurricanes team that sits a point ahead of them in the standings.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
