Flyers Can't Erase 3-0 Hole In Loss, Drop To 4-9-4

Flyers can't erase 3-0 hole in loss, drop to 4-9-4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers couldn’t overcome a three-goal deficit Tuesday night as they lost to the Wild, 4-2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Tyson Foerster and Denver Barkey found the back of the net for the Flyers. Barkey’s goal came on the power play 1:48 minutes into the third period, cutting the Flyers’ deficit to 3-2.

But the Flyers couldn’t convert on a power play shortly after that. Minnesota ultimately restored order and iced the game with an empty-netter.

“I feel like we’ve always competed and never quit, but we just can’t be chasing the game,” Barkey said. “Against a top team like that, it’s a lot harder to come out on top.”

Rick Tocchet’s club found itself in a 3-0 hole not even a minute into the second period. From tough breaks to tough calls, the Flyers didn’t have a whole lot go their way (more on that below).

Still, though, the Flyers (4-9-4) failed to sustain the momentum from their last effort, a 6-3 win Sunday at home over the Mammoth.

“It’s one game,” Sean Couturier said Tuesday after morning skate. “We’ve got to build on that, do that consistently. It almost has to just become automatic in our minds, in the way we play.”

Consistency has totally escaped the Flyers in the opening month-plus of the season. The Flyers have just 12 points in 17 games. Last season, they had 21 points through 17 games (9-5-3).

The Wild (11-3-3) are a Western Conference contender. The Flyers face them again Dec. 5 when they visit Grand Casino Arena.

• Dan Vladar denied 18 of 21 shots.

The Flyers had a frustrating and costly start to the middle stanza. Minnesota cushioned its lead to 3-0 just 42 seconds into the period. The Flyers were hurt by a bad bounce and then apparently some bad actions.

As Jamie Drysdale tried to play the puck up the boards, it hit one of the officials. The Wild quickly turned the favorable bounce into a goal by Joel Eriksson Ek.

Right after the play, Trevor Zegras was hit with a 10-minute misconduct penalty, forcing him to sit for half of the period. The Flyers’ forward must’ve done something to upset referee Kyle Rehman about the unfortunate bounce. He appeared to tap his stick as he skated by Rehman.

“Just a little frustrated and I can’t be doing that,” Zegras said. “I’ve known Kyle for a long time. Just a stupid decision by me.”

Tocchet didn’t excuse it, either.

“You’re showing the ref up,” Tocchet said. “Whether you’re pissed, you can’t tap the ice. You shouldn’t do that.”

In the first period, the Flyers fell into an early 2-0 hole. Matt Boldy and Michael McCarron scored for Minnesota. The goals came just 4:37 minutes into the action and just 31 seconds apart.

Boldy made it 1-0 on a great blast. McCarron added to the lead when he had a puck go off Porter Martone’s skate and right to him in the slot.

“Bad bounces happen every night,” Drysdale said. “It’s unfortunate that they directly resulted in goals against. That sucks, it’s never fun. But I felt like we had a chance, I felt like we played some good hockey, some good stretches.”

Tocchet knew the Wild’s top line of Eriksson Ek, Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov would be a handful. That trio has not been scored on at 5-on-5. It was as advertised Tuesday night.

Minnesota netminder Jesper Wallstedt stopped 23 of the Flyers’ 25 shots.

“I think we had nine or 10 scoring chances where we miss the net,” Tocchet said.

After Foerster’s second-period goal drew the Flyers to within 3-1, Travis Konecny nearly made it a one-goal deficit. He took a pass from Barkey on a 2-on-1 rush, but the Flyers’ alternate captain misfired.

“I have an open net, 2-on-1,” Konecny said. “There were a couple of looks I had in the slot. For me, I’m mad at myself. I had a lot of good looks tonight, I had zero shots. So it’s unacceptable.”

During the second period, Nick Seeler was whistled for back-to-back penalties — one for crosschecking and the other for holding. He and the fans weren’t happy with either of the penalties.

The Flyers had a chance to strike on the opening shift of the game. Zegras had a good look, but his shot went wide. Later in the first period, with the Flyers down 2-0, Martone rung the post on the power play.

A lot of missed opportunities for the Flyers.

“A game like this kills you because we had opportunities and we missed them,” Tocchet said. “Against this team, you can’t miss your opportunities.”

• Matvei Michkov recorded a secondary assist on Foerster’s goal.

Michkov has put up 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in his last 24 regular-season games, a stretch that dates back to April 3 of last season.

Drysdale also assisted the goal, giving him four helpers over the last two games.

Martone and Zegras assisted Barkey’s goal.

• Bobby Brink was back in Philadelphia as a visiting player for the first time since being traded at last season’s deadline.

The Flyers sent Brink to the Wild in exchange for David Jiricek. In 17 games this season, Brink has a goal and eight assists. The 25-year-old winger picked up a secondary helper on McCarron’s goal.

Brink spent parts of four seasons with the Flyers.

“To see his development as a young guy coming in to where he’s at today, a lot of credit goes to him and the way he has become a regular NHL player,” Couturier said. “I’m happy for him.”

Jiricek, a 22-year-old defenseman, was a healthy scratch Tuesday night. He hasn’t played in two weeks.

• Next up for the Flyers is a five-game road trip, which starts Thursday when they visit the Rangers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

“We’ve got a big road trip coming up that if we play well, it could bring a lot of energy to the group for this next little stretch here,” Zegras said. “Our game’s coming, it’s coming.”