Lightning Chase Hart, Roll Past Flyers

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Tampa Bay Lightning were without their top goal scorer, top defenseman and played their backup goalie. It didn't help the Flyers chances any against the NHL's best team.

Three goals in the first 10:23 chased Carter Hart and the Flyers suffered a 5-2 defeat to the Lightning on Tuesday night.

The game quickly spiraled out of control for the Flyers. It took just 2:22 for the Lightning to strike.

Andrew MacDonald lost a board battle in the corner to Ondrej Palat, who centered to Steven Stamkos. Stamkos' shot was blocked, but the puck went back to the point where Mikhail Sergachev took a shot that hit Shayne Gostisbehere's leg and beat Hart to make it 1-0.

At 5:13, another Lightning goal made it 2-0. A failed clear by Gostisbehere allowed Tampa to retain possession. Adam Erne took a shot from a distance that was deflected by Anthony Cirelli and hit the post. Alex Killorn was there to put in the rebound for his 13th of the season and 100th of his career.

Just over five minutes later at 10:23, J.T. Miller scored on a two-on-one, carrying the puck from his own blue line and firing to beat Hart.

Hart's night was over after allowing three goals on nine shots. Brian Elliott entered for his first action since Nov. 15.

Tampa Bay outshot the Flyers, 13-7, in the first period.

The Flyers generated 14 shots on goal and more scoring chances in the second period, starting the period on the power play and getting two more later in the period. Through the middle 20 minutes, the Flyers were still unable to solve Louis Domingue.

Domingue made three great saves late in the period, one on a loose puck that came through the crease, a sprawling pad save on Jake Voracek and another save without his stick on Travis Sanheim.

After the second, the Lightning had a 3-0 lead and shots were even at 21.

The Flyers got on the board early in the third. Just 63 seconds into the period, Sean Couturier set up Oskar Lindblom for the easy tip-in goal to cut the lead to two.

The Flyers were pressing, looking for their second goal of the game, when Wayne Simmonds took a hooking penalty. With one second left on the power play, Yanni Gourde scored from a sharp angle to make it a three-goal game again.

Travis Konecny scored on another nice set up by Couturier at 10:51 to cut the lead back to two.

The Flyers appeared to get one goal back in the final minute as the puck was in the crease and pushed into the net, but the officials ruled goalie interference and disallowed the goal. After a coach's challenge, the call was confirmed. 

Tampa Bay put the game away with an empty-net goal by Ryan McDonagh seconds later. Simmonds was handed a game misconduct as the Flyers continued to protest the no-goal call through the remainder of the game.

Domingue finished with 28 saves on 30 shots in the win. Elliott stopped 22 of 23 shots faced.

The Flyers head on the road to face the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• TB Mikhail Sergachev (4) (Steven Stamkos, Ondrej Palat) 2:22
• TB Alex Killorn (13) (Anthony Cirelli, Adam Erne) 5:13
• TB J.T. Miller (10) (Unassisted) 10:23

2nd Period

• No Scoring

3rd Period

• PHI Oskar Lindblom (11) (Sean Couturier, Michael Raffl) 1:03
• TB Yanni Gourde (17) PP (Miller, Ryan McDonagh) 7:42
• PHI Travis Konecny (18) (Couturier, Travis Sanheim) 10:51
• TB McDonagh (6) EN (Unassisted) 19:24

Game Statistics