After blowing a two-goal lead on Friday night, the Philadelphia Flyers were back on home ice as they faced the Ottawa Senators. This was a huge game for Philadelphia, who have several teams chasing them for playoff positioning. Also, Philadelphia had a new netminder in goal. Felix Sandstrom was being counted on to have a big game, as the Flyers were looking to get back on the winning track. Ottawa, on the other hand, is not at all a good hockey team. They are last in the Atlantic Division with only 53 points (25-31-3) and were 8-16-1 on the road. They did not have Brady Tkachuk, who was out after being injured on Friday night. Not to mention, they had Mads Soongard in goal, who was 1-1 with a 5.09 GAA.
1st period: Ottawa Senators vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia lit the lamp just 1:08 in, as Nick Seeler‘s shot from the point was redirected by Joel Farabee, who scored for the first time in 15 games. Farabee’s 18th goal of the year gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead. That is how the period ended with Philadelphia outshooting the Senators, 19-4.
2nd period: Ottawa Senators vs Philadelphia Flyers
The Senators tied it at 1-1, when Vladimir Tarasenko backhanded a shot that deflected off of Seeler’s glove and beat Sandstrom glove side for his 17th goal of the season at 4:04.
Philadelphia regained the lead with 47 seconds left in the period when Scott Laughton won a faceoff and Tyson Foerster wristed a shot that the goalie never saw. Foerster’s 15th of the year made it 2-1.
Then, right before intermission, Ottawa’s Shane Pinto slashed Foerster as he was on a breakaway. The referee gave Foerster a penalty shot with two seconds remaining. Foerster, on the penalty shot, wristed through the five-hole, making it 3-1 Flyers. The penalty shot goal is the 5th this year for Philadelphia, which set an NHL record.
3rd period: Ottawa Senators vs Philadelphia Flyers
Late in the game, Ottawa cut the deficit to 3-2, as with the goalie pulled, and just as the power play expired, it was Thomas Chabot one-timing a pass by Sandstrom for his 6th of the year at 18:02.
The Senators pulled the goalie again, and Sandstrom got help from the goalpost, as the puck on several occasions stayed out. But, with one second left, it was Flyers defenseman Cam Yorkintercepting a pass, and putting into the empty net for his 9th of the year, and making the final score, 4-2.
Sandstrom made 24 saves in the victory.
Philadelphia’s next game will be on Monday night at home, as former Flyer, Kevin Hayes, returns with his St. Louis Blues squad, and faceoff is set for 7 p.m.
About the author
David has been following all types of sports since he was a kid. While Phillies baseball is his primary focus, David can talk about the Flyers, Eagles, 76ers, Union, MLB and college sports. He does computer work in Pennsylvania and does stats work for another sports company. Follow him on X at @weightmanstats and follow us at @TotalApexSports