Monday October 24th 2011
Toronto (5-2-1) @ Flyers (5-2-1)
Off a huge OT win to continue their torrid start to the
season the Toronto Maple Leafs fell 4-2 as they visited the Philadelphia
Flyers.
Gustavsson started in place of injured James Reimer and Sergei
Bobrovsky took the raines instead Ilya Bryzgalov.. Gustavsson looked good early
as the Flyers began to pile on the pressure off and on. The Leaf powerplay was
horrible, yet again, as they could barely enter the zone on the first two
attempts. Six minutes in, league
leader, Phil Kessel spots the open puck and sniped it top corner for a 1-0
Leafs lead. A frightening moment happened shortly afterward as Chris Pronger
left the game with a facial injury sustained from a shot follow through by
Mikhail Grabovksy. The screams Pronger let out as he immediately skated for the
dressing room left everyone concerned. It is reported that the eye area is to
swollen for an immediate update on injury. On a positive note the game saw a
bright spot from a past star. Jaromir Jagr ties the game late in the first by
showing he still has it by splitting the D then going upstairs blocker side.
Jagr demonstrated the speed and skill reminiscent of his earlier years to net
his first goal of the year, 1296 days since his last NHL goal.
The second period was back and forth until, on the power
play, Scotty Hartnel gave Philly a 2-1 lead as he poked the puck past
Gustavsson who couldn’t hold on after making a nice pad save. The first line
for the Flyers dominated the game and continued to produce as Jagr controlled
down low, dished to Giroux who feed it to Hartnell for his second of the night.
Then Frattin showed his speed as he broke into the zone and sauced one to
Steckel who awkwardly redirected the puck off his shaft then off Babrovsky’s
stick and in for a 3-2 game. The excitement wasn’t done as Jagr scored his
second of the game on a centre ice breakaway bringing the Philadelphia fans to
their feet. Flyers outshot the
Leafs 30 to 26 in a closely contested battle that ended 4-2 for the broad
street bullies.
By: Liam Niven
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