Flyers Fall to Islanders in Shootout in Rookie Game

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It started off well for the Flyers rookies, but as the game wore on, the team simply lost steam. The Islanders rookies were able to turn a 3-0 deficit and 4-2 deficit after two periods into a 4-4 game early in the third.

The Flyers had their chances in overtime. Joel Farabee hit his second post of the game and missed the net on a breakaway moments later. In a shootout, Oliver Wahlstrom scored the only goal to lift the Islanders over the Flyers, 5-4, in the Rookie Game at PPL Center in Allentown on Wednesday night.

After a relatively quiet first period from the Flyers, two quick goals put them in front. Phil Myers helped get things started with a nice move at the blue line before feeding German Rubtsov for a one-timer to make it 1-0 at 18:16. Just 34 seconds later, Sean Comrie took a feed from Morgan Frost and fired a wrist shot through a screen to make it 2-0 Flyers after one.

Felix Sandstrom was especially good over the first 20 minutes, stopping all 17 shots he faced. While the first half of the second period was quieter for him, he continued to remain steady in net, finishing the game with 24 saves on 25 shots.

The Flyers added to the lead at 5:25 of the second period on the power play. Mikhail Vorobyev put a pass to the front of the net where Rubtsov tipped it home for his second goal of the game. The Islanders were able to finally solve Sandstrom on a power play just over a minute later with Felix Bibeau similarly getting a tip in front.

On the first shot that Kirill Ustimenko faced in relief, the Islanders scored as David Quenneville's shot through a screen found the net. The Flyers had a quick counter just 1:16 later when David Kase made a great individual play and finished with a shot from the right circle to make it 4-2 Flyers. 

Early in the third, the Islanders were back on the power play and cashed in. Samuel Bolduc fired a shot through a screen that beat Ustimenko and cut the lead down to one just 2:17 into the period. Just 90 seconds later, the game was tied. Erik Brown set up Otto Koivula all alone in the slot and his goal erased the earlier three-goal deficit.

Overtime featured chances for both teams. Farabee had the best opportunity, hitting the post. The Islanders had a 3-on-1 the other way and had their attempt stopped by Ustimenko and the rebound knocked ahead for Farabee. Gassed at the end of his shift, Farabee was able to go in on goal and get off a shot that missed the net.

In the shootout, Wahlstrom had the only goal, going stick side high on Ustimenko. Frost hit the post after making a great move on his attempt, while Farabee and Rubtsov were both stopped.

The 5-4 shootout loss marks the end of Rookie Camp. The team has off from on-ice work tomorrow ahead of Friday's training camp open.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PHI German Rubtsov (1) (Phil Myers) 18:16
• PHI Sean Comrie (1) (Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe) 18:50

2nd Period

• PHI Rubtsov (2) PP (Mikhail Vorobyev, Matthew Strome) 5:25
• NYI Felix Bibeau (1) PP (Otta Koivula, Erik Brown) 6:45
• NYI David Quenneville (1) (Ryan MacKinnon, Kieffer Bellows) 12:47
• PHI David Kase (1) (Unassisted) 14:03

3rd Period

• NYI Samuel Bolduc (1) PP (Grant Hutton, Mason Jobst) 2:17
• NYI Koivula (1) (Brown) 3:47

Overtime

• No Scoring

Shootout

• PHI Morgan Frost – Miss
• NYI Otto Koivula – Miss
• PHI Joel Farabee – Save
• NYI Oliver Wahlstrom – Goal
• PHI German Rubtsov – Save