Late comeback falls short as Flyers fall to Toronto

The effort was there. The Flyers dictated play for most of the night. Jonathan Bernier played like the number one goaltender the Leafs envisioned him to be. Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and Dion Phanuef all scored and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Thursday night.

It was a back and forth start. Both teams exchanged chances through the first five minutes. The Flyers would start to dictate play. Lead by the line of Sean Couturier, Jakub Voracek and Matt Read, the Flyers would spend the better part of the next five minutes in Toronto's zone.

Toronto would get the game's first power play. Mark Streit was whistled for tripping at 10:21 of the first. The Leafs would get chances with the man advantage but Rob Zepp and the rest of the penalty killers did a good job killing it off.

Phil Kessel would get the games first goal. Kessel beat Zepp on the rush with a wrist shot over the glove at 17:53. It was Kessel's team leading 23rd of the season. Tyler Bozak had the only assist.

The Flyers would also get a chance with the man advantage in the opening period. Like the Toronto, the Flyers got their chances but could not capitalize. 

Jonathan Bernier was the Leafs best player in the period. The Toronto net minder turned aside 16 Philadelphia shots to send the teams to the locker room with Toronto ahead 1-0.

The second period was similar to the first. The Flyers were the dominate team yet again but could not find the answer to Bernier. They fired 15 shots at the Toronto net but were unable to beat Bernier.

Tyler Bozak made it 2-0 at 5:33 of the second. Bozak took a long stretch pass and went in alone to beat Zepp high to the blocker side. James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Rielly had the assists on Bozak's 17th of the year.

The goal would be the last shot Zepp would face as Steve Mason came in to replace him. The goal was Toronto's first shot of the period.  In all, Toronto had just two shots in the period.

Toronto would start the third on a power play as Wayne Simmonds was called for unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the second. It took the Leafs just 1:22 to make it 3-0.

Dion Phanuef netted his third goal of the season on the power play in his first game back since the end of January. Jake Gardiner and Kessel had the assists. 

The Flyers would finally get on the board at 11:10 of the third. Giroux wired home a pass from Michael Del Zotto on the power play for his 18th of the season. The goal came just as 5 on 3 advantage ended.

Less than five minutes later Brayden Schenn made it a one goal Toronto lead as he got his 12th of the season. Schenn buried the rebound of a Mark Streit shot on the power play to make it 3-2 with just over five minutes left.

The Flyers could not find the equalizer as Bernier continued to carry the Leafs on his back. When the dust settled, the Toronto goalie made 47 saves for the win.

The Flyers will be back in action on Saturday night as they host the New York Rangers. Game time is 8:00.

Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074.