Flyers-Flames observations: Funk continues despite four goals

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Thursday night, the Flyers couldn’t hold on to a third-period lead.

Saturday afternoon against the Flames, they Flyers coughed up a two-goal second-period lead, and Calgary won, 5-4, in overtime. Michael Frolik scored the game-winner from Micael Backlund.

The Flyers have dropped four straight, three by one goal. 

Flames center Sean Monahan scored a second-period power-play hat trick in a span of 7 minutes and 49 seconds.

• Nolan Patrick had a prime opportunity to pick up his second goal of the game in the third period — the rookie got his second tally of the season in the second period — when he collected a loose puck cutting across the crease, he just fired it over the net. This was Patrick’s best game in a Flyers sweater, as he was very active in the offensive zone.

• The Flames' top line had so many quality chances. Right wing Micheal Ferland had a shot from close range that Brian Elliott snared. That top line had 12 shots on net through the first two periods, and for the most part, they were from close range. 

• Travis Konecny had some excellent chances, but his shot has been all over the place the past few games. He had an opportunity to give the Flyers a 5-4 lead, but he shot over the net (again) and hit the glass.

• Patrick looked a lot better than what we saw in the game in Winnipeg, as expected. In the second period, he had a nice backhand feed from his knees to Wayne Simmonds coming down the slot, as Simmonds had his best scoring opportunity in a long time. The Wayne Train’s shot hit Mike Smith right in the midsection.  

• An unfortunate sequence at the 13:45 mark of the second period during 4-on-4 play. The Flyers had a 3-on-2 opportunity when Provorov sent a pass that was a little too far for Patrick. Provorov could have taken the shot himself.

• Johnny Gaudreau almost scored his second goal of the game — the South Jersey native scored on a first-period breakaway — as he read the puck and made a break toward center ice. Ferland recognized it and tried to send a two-line backhand pass to Gaudreau put the pass was behind him and it slid all the way to Elliott. You almost need a free safety back there keeping an eye on the always sneaky Gaudreau.

• The slashing penalty on Brandon Manning was ridiculous. Manning was simply trying to use his stick against Matt Stajan’s to win a puck battle, and Stajan’s stick wound up snapping in two.  

• Elliott made a terrific glove save on Gaudreau, who tried to pick the upper left corner with a wide-open wrist shot. That led to a rebound and no Flyer was there to clean it up. It all started up top when T.J. Brodie faked a shot, forcing Sean Couturier to go to the ice, and from there, the Flyers were all out of position. 

• Not a memorable game for Shayne Gositisbehere. Aside from the first period mishaps described below, he was sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct after saying something to the officials, and then went back to the box 65 seconds later when he got his elbow up on Ferland. Two bad mistakes that cost the Flyers two goals. 

• Monahan scored a second-period (power play) hat trick, with his third goal coming on a one-timer from the left circle. Monahan's absolute bomb beat Elliott glove-side high. 

• The Flyers scored on their first shot of the game, as Manning sent a somewhat harmless shot on goal that hit Smith’s shoulder, off the post, off Smith’s back and over the line. Michael Raffl provided the takeaway, creating the turnover and keeping the puck in the zone.  

• Two mistakes by Gostisbehere on one sequence. His outlet pass was picked off by Gaudreau, which led to Monahan’s shot and then "Ghost" failed to pick up Ferland on the back end. Gostisbehere doesn’t appear to be playing with much confidence right now. He had a clear opportunity to skate up the ice with the pick and hesitated, looking for someone to pass to. When he’s playing with confidence, you can see it with the puck on his stick.

• Wonder why 31-year-old Kris Versteeg has played for eight teams and can’t seem to stick around? Dumb, selfish plays like we saw in the first period when he takes an unsportsmanlike penalty on Taylor Leier after the linesman blew the whistle for offsides. Versteeg, obviously upset from a previous incident, took a run at Leier, and it cost the Flames a goal. 

• On the Flyers' power play, they did exactly what they’ve been trying to do over their last five games. Get shots in from the point and hope for rebound opportunities. Smith gave up a bad one on Jakub Voracek’s wrist shot and Couturier continued doing what he’s done all season, camping out in front of the net looking for leftovers. This time, he actually put the puck airborne. 

• Subtle but nice move from Jori Lehtera, who stepped into the faceoff circle and kicked the puck out to Ivan Provorov. Provorov then perfectly placed a shot over Smith’s glove-side shoulder and gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead.

• Couturier almost scored a second goal by nearly converting a backhand on a shorthanded breakaway as he came across the slot he tried to go between Smith’s pads. There was a slight opening, but Smith caught it short side with his right pad and kept it from going in. 

• As he’s been throughout the past four games, Elliott was splendid on a 4-on-3 penalty kill, as he was target practice from Gaudreau, Monahan, Dougie Hamilton and Mark Giordano. Elliott made four saves in a 40-second span.

Lines, pairings and scratches 

Forwards
Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Jakub Voracek

Michael Raffl-Valtteri Filppula-Travis Konecny

Dale Weise-Nolan Patrick-Wayne Simmonds

Taylor Leier-Scott Laughton-Jori Lehtera

Defensemen
Ivan Provorov-Robert Hagg

Brandon Manning-Shayne Gostisbehere

Travis Sanheim-Mark Alt

Goalies
Brian Elliott

Michal Neuvirth

Scratched: Radko Gudas (awaiting disciplinary hearing), Jordan Weal (upper body), Andrew MacDonald (IR)

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