The Philadelphia Flyers are still stuck without a win, and Monday’s trip to Benchmark International Arena ended the same way the first three games did: with more frustration than answers. Tampa Bay handled the finish better and walked away with a 4-1 victory, leaving Philadelphia at 0-2-2 while the Lightning moved to 2-1-0.
The Flyers actually opened the night with a cleaner edge than they’ve shown earlier in the season. They did a better job keeping Tampa Bay to the outside, even when the Lightning went on the power play. Dan Vladar helped keep things level early, but the dam cracked late in the first period when Brayden Point redirected a shot from John Carlson past him to make it 1-0.
Tampa Bay wasted almost no time stretching that lead. Just 17 seconds into the second period, Pontus Holmberg beat Vladar glove side off assists from Ilya Mikheyev and Zemgus Girgensons.
Philadelphia looked scattered after that, but it finally got a jolt back when Tyson Foerster’s shot from near the point created a rebound that Porter Martone knocked in to cut it to 2-1. The goal was later credited to Tyson Foerster.
That brief spark didn’t turn into a full comeback. The Flyers had chances on the power play, including one after Charle-Edouard D’Astous was called for roughing on Martone and another when Anthony Cirelli was whistled for a high stick on Cam York, but they couldn’t cash in. Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission and kept control from there.
The third period brought some energy, starting with Simon Benoit and Jeff Viel dropping the gloves in Philadelphia’s first regular-season fight. Viel had the better of that exchange, but the scrap was meant to wake the Flyers up.
Later, the Lightning briefly thought they had added another goal, only for it to be wiped out after Brandon Hagel made contact with Vladar earlier in the play. Philadelphia also killed off a Tampa Bay power play after Michkov high-sticked Hagel.
Still, the Flyers never found the equalizer. Their best look came when Owen Tippett fed Trevor Zegras with just over 11 minutes left, but Zegras rang one off the iron. Late power-play chances came and went too, including one after Hagel was called for elbowing Martone.
From there, Tampa Bay put it away. Ilya Mikheyev scored with about three minutes left, and Brandon Hagel finished the job with an empty-net goal after the Flyers pulled Vladar for the extra attacker.
The Flyers now get two days off before facing the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET at the Canadian Tire Center.
In Other News...
Flyers Make A Tough Lineup Call As Barkey Returns
Denver Barkey is on track to give the Flyers another look against Tampa Bay, with the young forward expected to make his season debut after working back from a lower-body injury. Rick Tocchet confirmed Barkey is likely to play and pointed to the qualities that make him intriguing for this roster, especially his hockey sense and ability to create offense. It is the kind of return that can quietly shift the feel of a lineup, particularly for a team still sorting out which young pieces are ready for bigger minutes.
The move also comes with a tough decision elsewhere, as Alex Bump is expected to come out of the lineup to make room. For a club trying to balance development with immediate performance, those calls can say plenty about where the staff sees its depth chart right now. Dan Vladar will also be back in goal for his second start of the season, adding another layer to a game that will offer a clearer picture of how the Flyers want to line up as Barkey re-enters the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Linked To A Young Defenseman Worth A Bold Push
Contract talks in Detroit have turned into one of the more closely watched subplot lines of the offseason, and a young defenseman with size and upside is now at the center of it. Philadelphia is among the teams reportedly monitoring the situation, with the kind of blue-line profile that tends to draw attention if it becomes available.
Simon Edvinssons frustration with his contract negotiations has opened the door to the possibility of a move, even as the Red Wings still want to work something out. Seattle and Pittsburgh are also said to be in the mix, which means any team serious about making a push may have to come in aggressively before Detroit is forced to decide whether to keep negotiating or listen more seriously to outside interest. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Get Timely Boost Before Tampa Bay But Two Statuses Loom
The Flyers got a little healthier at the right time as they prepared for Tampa Bay, with the latest injury report bringing some encouragement to a lineup that has had to absorb its share of bumps. Denver Barkey appears close to returning from a lower-body injury, and his progress gives Philadelphia another option as it looks to sharpen its depth for a tough matchup.
There is still some uncertainty, though, because Rasmus Ristolainen remains in the mix after leaving a recent game with a hand issue. Barkeys possible return also comes with a procedural wrinkle, since he would have to come off injured reserve first, which could mean a corresponding roster move before he is available. [Read more 🡒]