Unhealthy begin expensive as comeback try falls brief in loss to Winnipeg

Flyers’ bad start costly as comeback attempt falls short in loss to Jets initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers fell behind by three targets early Sunday night time and could not full what would have been their finest comeback of the season.

John Tortorella’s membership drew even simply 2:35 minutes into the third interval however misplaced to the Jets, 5-3, on the Wells Fargo Heart.

Kevin Hayes scored a pair of energy play targets, the second a game-tying one early within the remaining body. Ivan Provorov netted the Flyers’ different marker.

Karson Kuhlman scored Winnipeg’s game-winner. It was stoppable for Felix Sandstrom.

The Jets iced the sport with an empty-netter.

Winnipeg improved to 22-1-0 when taking a lead into the third interval. Its 3-0 benefit earlier than the midway level of the primary interval was finally insurmountable.

The Flyers (20-21-7) had been enjoying their fifth recreation in seven days and the second recreation of a back-to-back set, however that may’t be used as an excuse for his or her begin. The Jets additionally performed Saturday on the highway in Ottawa, Ontario.

In six days, the Flyers see the Jets (31-16-1) once more Saturday once they go to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

• Tortorella knew this was going to be a troublesome one.

The Jets are one of many prime goal-prevention golf equipment within the NHL. They entered with the league’s second-ranked penalty kill (84.9 %) and yielding the fourth-fewest targets per recreation (2.62).

“Huge crew, actually good crew, well-coached, personnel proper on by,” Tortorella stated pregame. “It is a very troublesome recreation for us.”

Winnipeg jumped all around the Flyers. It was evident why the Jets are so sound defensively. Their defensive-zone exits are crisp and with tempo. They arrive after you with measurement and ability.

Felt like an ideal storm with the Flyers showing sluggish, a concern we highlighted last night.

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele shortly buried the Flyers in a 3-0 first-period gap with markers over the span of simply 3:38 minutes

The deficit spelled hassle contemplating the Jets got here in 27-2-0 once they rating three or extra targets.

Provorov answered with 1:21 minutes left within the opening stanza to maintain the Flyers inside putting distance coming into the second interval.

• Sandstrom, not too long ago again from his two-week conditioning stint at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, made his first begin in 40 days.

The 26-year-old was ambushed by the Jets, who put three targets on him within the first eight and a half minutes of the motion.

Positive, Sandstrom confirmed some rust, however he did not get a lot assist early, both.

Winnipeg transitioned like gangbusters and the Flyers appeared a step behind virtually your complete first interval.

“I believe Felix has put in some actually good minutes. We’d like one other save,” Tortorella stated pregame Sunday. “That is the following step for him. Now I am undecided if that occurs. He’ll get the chance, however he must make the following save — I believe you may see him within the win column extra.”

Sandstrom wanted to make that subsequent save. Simply previous to Kuhlman’s game-winner, the Flyers had killed off 28 seconds of a 5-on-3 Jets energy play after which the following 5-on-4.

The membership’s penalty kill went 5 for five.

Sandstrom made 26 saves on 30 pictures.

The Flyers on Friday despatched Samuel Ersson again to the Phantoms. The transfer was not performance-related. They need him enjoying a ton of video games and didn’t want to expose Sandstrom on waivers.

Not a simple name, although, as a result of Ersson was a big issue within the Flyers successful 5 video games on this season-best stretch.

Winnipeg backup David Rittich stopped 27 of the Flyers’ 30 pictures.

• During the last 11 video games, Hayes has 13 factors (six targets, seven assists).

His first energy play marker got here on a powerful shot from a loopy facet angle. The second was from the circle off of a giant rebound.

Tony DeAngelo picked up assists on each however completed with a minus-4 ranking.

• After a day without work Monday, the Flyers host the Kings on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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