Flyers Take Over Metro Division Lead with Shootout Win Over Canadiens

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

When the Flyers went and acquired Petr Mrazek last Monday, this was the reason.

Mrazek turned in his best start in his young career with the Flyers, stopped 28 shots through 65 minutes and then another four in the shootout as the Flyers claimed a 1-0 win via the shootout over the Montreal Canadiens to climb into first place in the Metropolitan Division.

The first period opened with an early power play for the Flyers after Travis Konecny was tripped by Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty briefly squared off with Shayne Gostisbehere in a wrestling match that landed each roughing minors.

The Flyers failed to take advantage of the opportunity, but did generate more chances as the period progressed after a sleepy and flat start.

Shots were 10-3 Flyers after 20 minutes.

Montreal controlled most of the middle period, outshooting the Flyers, 15-8, to even up shots at 18 after 40 minutes. Mrazek came up with some key saves and the Flyers had to kill off a penalty. The Flyers also failed to take advantage of another power play in the period and the game remained scoreless going to the third.

In the third, both sides generated scoring chances with the Flyers outshooting the Canadiens 10-4 in the period. Both goalies stood tall on some quality chances, as the tight-checking period didn't allow for much on the offensive side.

The Flyers did get the best chance to take the lead, getting a power play with 6:25 left in the period, but they struggled to get set up and did not generate any shots on the man advantage.

After 60 minutes of scoreless hockey, the game went to overtime.

The overtime was a frantic back-and-forth affair with great chances both ways. Montreal maintained possession for over a minute while the trio of Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek and Gostisbehere were stuck on the ice. The Flyers managed to survive that and then got a tremendous shift from Konecny, who made several brilliant moves and nearly ended the game, missing just wide on one shot and hitting the post with another.

Montreal netminder Charlie Lindgren made five saves in the overtime, all of high quality, as he also had to stop Konecny from point-blank with a quick shot and Claude Giroux from in the crease. Mrazek was just as good in overtime, making six saves.

That sent things to a shootout, where Mrazek actually allowed the first goal to Montreal's second shooter Paul Byron. Voracek scored in the third round to extend the shootout. Mrazek and Lindgren traded saves in the fourth and fifth round of the shootout before Sean Couturier scored in the sixth round to give the Flyers the 1-0 win.

For Mrazek, it was his third win since joining the Flyers and first shutout with the team. He made 28 saves in the win. Lindgren stopped 33 shots in regulation and overtime.

The Flyers closed the month of February with a 10-1-2 record, the best in the month of February in franchise history. The shootout win, coupled with the Washington Capitals 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets moved the Flyers into first place in the Metropolitan Division.

The win also completed a sweep of the Montreal Canadiens for the season. The Flyers defeated the Canadiens in all three meetings this season, all coming within the last three weeks.

The Flyers return to the ice on Thursday night at home to face the Carolina Hurricanes. Game time is 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• No Scoring

2nd Period

• No Scoring

3rd Period

• No Scoring

Overtime

• No Scoring

Shootout

• MTL Alex Galchenyuk – Miss
• PHI Claude Giroux – Save
• MTL Paul Byron – Goal
• PHI Nolan Patrick – Miss
• MTL Jonathan Drouin – Save
• PHI Jake Voracek – Goal
• MTL Artturi Lehkonen – Save
• PHI Jordan Weal – Save
• MTL Charles Hudon – Save
• PHI Travis Konecny – Save
• MTL David Schlemko – Save
• PHI Sean Couturier – Goal

Game Statistics