For hockey fans, not much more can be said about this game. Tonight’s matchup between the Metropolitan Divison rivals had everything any fan could possibly want in a hockey game. Both teams had terrific chances throughout the matchup, but ultimately it would be the goaltenders that would steal the show from both teams’ potent offenses.
In the case of Steve Mason, it was perhaps his best game all season, which is saying a lot because he’s been nothing short of terrific over the last month in a half. The Flyers would ride Mason all the way to the end of the shootout on top of a 36 save effort to come away with the much-needed two points in the nationally broadcasted contest.
First Period
The start of their rematch from the first round of the 2016 playoffs picked up where the Capitals left off. The Flyers had a few good scoring chances but couldn’t muster up anything past Brayden Holtby and the Capitals defense. The Flyers power play continued to run dry as they basically chased the puck around in their only opportunity on the man-advantage.
Steve Mason made a huge save here to keep the game scoreless, below:
Ring ten bells for that save! pic.twitter.com/K8pt2TtK5O
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
However, the Capitals would eventually capitalize on their territorial advantage throughout the period on a goal by Andre Burakovsky, who’s been a healthy scratch for Barry Trotz the past three games:
Burakovsky beats Mason. pic.twitter.com/n2CLlCzGwQ
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
In all, the Flyers would be out-shot by the Capitals by a 14-7 margin, and out-attempted 25-13 in addition to being down 1-0 heading into the second period of play.
Second Period
In the game of hockey, there are ebbs and flows throughout its 60 minutes of play, and this one was no different. As the Capitals dominated much of the first frame, the Flyers came out soaring in the second and were buzzing in the first ten minutes of the stanza.
Eventually, their great play would be rewarded by a Michael Raffl wrap around goal off an original shot that went wide of the net:
Michael Raffl tucks home the puck to tie things up! pic.twitter.com/rXV5xvuzbW
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
However, their initial dominance in the period would only last so long, as the Capitals would once again, regain their lead on a Lars Eller scramble goal in front of Steve Mason:
Eller grabs the rebound and gives the Caps a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/RTY2N2M4o7
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
Shortly after the Flyers would be gifted another power play, and again, would muster up absolutely nothing. On both Flyers power plays up to this point they would have failed to register a shot on net.
Late in the period Shayne Gostisbehere and Justin Williams would take minors which would lead to four on four hockey, and from here the Flyers would take advantage of the extra ice space as captain Claude Giroux would find himself open in the slot and would make no mistake about it:
BAR ⬇️ BABY pic.twitter.com/SmXWquQjiQ
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) December 22, 2016
Courtesy of captain Giroux, the Flyers would tie the game up at two heading into the final period of a well-played game by the division rivals.
Third Period
The first ten minutes of the final period was much like two prized boxers exchanging blows on one another as it was just back and forth action with both teams’ goaltenders being the sole reason the game was still knotted at 2.
Voracek and Giroux generate an early chance in the third. pic.twitter.com/Fd7DW0EPWA
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
As the period wore on things began to intensify, giving off a playoff-esque feel between the two heated rivals. The game had the feel of whoever could solve the other team’s goaltender next would be well on their way to a victory and a much needed two points in a tightly contested Metropolitan Division.
However, despite a late man-advantage given to a red-hot Capitals power play with under two minutes left in the period, the game would need overtime to determine its winner.
Overtime
The start of overtime would be much different than the usual three on three play we’re accustomed to as the Capitals had 11 seconds of power play time carried over into the period. So when Gudas came out of the box it would four on four action for most of the frame.
Once the game returned to three on three the Flyers would have a terrific chance to end the game on a Giroux shot in the slot followed by a Gostisbehere chance on the rebound:
So. Close. pic.twitter.com/YREHCUbfJq
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
However, near the very end of the extra frame, the Capitals had the game on their sticks but would ultimately be denied by Steve Mason, who played one of his best hockey games of his career to send the game into a shootout:
Steve Mason sends the Flyers to a shootout. pic.twitter.com/fMugybCmny
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
Shootout
T.J. Oshie would score the shootout’s first goal to give the Capitals the lead but Jake Voracek would equalize on the next attempt and the game would come down to the stick of Nicklas Backstrom. Mason would deny him and send the shootout to extras, in which Wayne Simmonds would pull some magic out of his hat on his chance below:
Simmonds with a filthy move on Holtby for the lead. pic.twitter.com/87ARaFjcns
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
It would all come down to former Flyer Justin Williams versus Steve Mason, and this would be the result:
MASE DADDY stops Williams. Flyers win! pic.twitter.com/4yENol6YuL
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 22, 2016
The Flyers take the extra point from the game in a huge emotional win for a team that needed to get things back on the right track following two straight losses.