The Panthers had a good start to Thursday’s game, but two Flyers goals put the game out of reach for the Panthers, who fell apart in the second period. The Panthers had some great scoring chances early, but it was the Flyers who scored first, on the first power play of the game halfway through the period. The Panthers continued to play well, but a second period goal by Matt Read sent them into panic mode. There were good individual performances after Read’s goal, but as a team they looked disorganized the remainder of the game.
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Scoring Summary
1st Period:
- Brayden Schenn (9), 10:35, PPG, Assists: C. Giroux & M. Carle
2nd Period:
- Matt Read (19), 3:06, Assists: W. Simmonds, D. Briere
- Scott Hartnell (32), 12:49, Unassisted
3rd Period:
- Jaromir Jagr (18), 2:35, PPG, Unassisted
- Eric Wellwood (3), 18:33, Assist: E. Gustafsson
Observations
- As has often been the case lately, the Panthers gave up the first goal. In their defense, it was 12 minutes in on a Flyers power play after the Cats had some quality scoring chances.
- The Panthers started off strong, but after a couple of good penalty kills, the Flyers had the Cats back on their heels a bit.
- Special teams were a problem. The Panthers were 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Flyers were 2-for-4, one coming on a 5-on-3.
- The Panthers fell apart in the second. The period started out strong, like the first, but the Flyers came back at the Cats. Hard work in front of the net led to another goal and the Panthers’ game got sloppy.
- Erik Gudbranson is starting to turn into the player the Panthers hoped he would be when they drafted him. He responded to being a healthy scratch in the last game with a solid effort tonight, which included a fight with Zac Rinaldo after Rinaldo hit Ed Jovanovski from behind.
- The Too Many Men penalty while shorthanded that led to Jagr’s 5-on-3 goal in the third says pretty much everything about the Panthers’ lost focus that started early in the second.
John’s First Star: Shawn Matthias. Matthias had a team high five shots, two hits, was 50% on faceoffs (6/12) and was hustling all night. While he had a -1 on the Hartnell goal, it was his linemate who turned over the puck. Matthias (and Jason Garrison) came close but couldn’t catch up to Hartnell before he got the shot on Theodore.
John’s Worst Star: Tomas Fleischmann. Flash did not have a good game. His turnover led directly to Hartnell’s goal, and it seemed like every time he was in a good scoring position, he lost the puck or fanned on the shot.
Up next: The Cats head across Pennsylvania to play the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.