Rob Zepp replaces Ray Emery in net in the second period of the Flyers loss to Vancouver. Photo Kate Frese/Flyerdelphia
Not even Rob Zepp, the hero of the last few games, could save the Flyers in this one.
The Flyers managed to fall behind early, giving up two goals in each of the first two periods. Nick Bonino opened the scoring with a goal at 6:35 of the first period, followed by a nice deflection goal by Henrik Sedin on the power play at 13:21. Shots on goal in the first were 9-9 after one period.
The Canucks continued to score in the second period, scoring twice in the first two minutes. The first goal chased Ray Emery and Rob Zepp’s first shot faced was a breakaway against Jannik Hansen that he could not come up with. The Canucks outshot the Flyers 10-9 in the second.
The third period was uneventful as the Flyers went quietly into the night as the fans at the Wells Fargo Center did not, booing lustily as the game ended. The Flyers outshot the Canucks in the third period 12- 3, but the damage was done and most of the shots were easy saves for Ryan Miller, who notched his fourth shutout of the season.
The Flyers seem to show the effects of playing back to back games, playing flat and not showing a lot of energy most of the game. They have not scored a goal in the last seven periods and continue to fall further and further out of playoff contention.
Despite having more power-play chances, the Flyers were 0-for-4 on power plays. The Canucks were 2-for-3 on their power play.
The Flyers did win the battle in the face-off circle winning 29 of 57 draws for 51 percent to 49 percent for the Canucks.
The Flyers were unable to control the Canucks top line and Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, made them pay. Each of them had two points in the victory. Alexander Edler and Christopher Tanev led the Vancouver defense with a plus two each.
The Flyers lose their second in a row and drop to 2-7-1 in their last 10. They will travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Saturday night at First Niagara Center.
Dain Stiles is a contributor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @Phillyflu75.
