Much like Game 1, one team looked very ready for Game 3. Another did not. It was not the home team.
The Flyers effort on Tuesday night in Game 3 was simply not good enough. That is obvious by the 4-1 score that mirrored Game 1.
But what was more alarming was the Flyers overall lack of response to a home crowd and lack of energy after a Game 2 win. They should have had all the momentum. The New York Rangers proved that this will not only be a difficult series, but an elevated effort is the only way they will prevent an early exit.
Much like Sunday's game, the Flyers found themselves in an early 2-0 hole. A late first-period goal, this time from Mark Streit, seemed to indicate that once again, the Flyers had a pulse in an otherwise one-sided game.
There was one thing the Flyers really had to avoid in the second period. They needed the next goal to tie the game. Dan Girardi ensured Game 3 would not be a carbon copy of Game 2.
More than just the deficit on the scoreboard, the Flyers looked slow for the entire game. Additionally, it was the Rangers doing the dirty work, blocking 28 shots and fending off five Flyer power plays with ease.
"They block a lot of shots, they’re pretty tight in front of the net and Lundqvist made a few good saves," Streit said. "We need to get pucks through. They’re good at blocking shots and it’s something we need to work on."
"That team plays really tight defense and blocks shot, so we would obviously like to have the first goal or even two," Kimmo Timonen said. "Sometimes it happens and we’ve come back 2-0 the last game. Obviously, we can’t do that every game."
Timonen's statement really is the theme of this series. The Flyers can't keep playing from behind. That will be the first key to Game 4: score first.
"It's too predictable what we're doing with Giroux and Timonen," head coach Craig Berube said. "I think we've got to move it around more. There's different things we can do. We'll make some adjustments.
"We had a lot of [offensive] zone time with the puck, but we've got to get it to the net and we didn't. That's the biggest problem. If you don't get it to the net, you're not going to score."
The Flyers had 31 shots in Tuesday's loss, but not nearly enough quality chances. The Rangers took only 23 shots on goal and scored four times.
All signs also point to Steve Mason returning for Game 4 as the starting goalie. Mason entered for Ray Emery with seven minutes left in the game.
Just like that, the home-ice advantage shifts right back to the Rangers. The Flyers will need to win another game on the road to win the series. But in order to do that, they have to avoid the slow starts and sluggish play.
Another problem has been Claude Giroux. He finally registered his first two shots of the series and did assist on the lone Flyers goal. But Giroux and the rest of the top line were relatively invisible again. It is one of the main reasons the series favors the Rangers at the moment.
"We'll be ready for Game 4," Giroux said. "We're going to tie up this series and go back to New York. We just have to stay confident. We're going to come off even better in Game 4."
Giroux will have to deliver on that statement personally and collectively leading the team. A loss in Game 4 will truly put the Flyers season on life support.
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for @Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
