Slow start dooms Flyers in shootout loss

The Flyers survived a flurry of goals by Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle in the first eight minutes Thursday night against the New York Islanders.

Minutes later they weathered a controversial fiveminute boarding penalty against Sam Morin. But it was Kevin Hayes’ hooking penalty with two minutes and change left in overtime that doomed the Flyers, because we know the deal with the Flyers and shootouts.

Lost in the 3-2 decision were goals by Nicolas AubeKubel and Jake Voracek, a solid game in goal by Carter Hart and even the friendly disposition of coach Alain Vigneault.

Frustrated with another close setback, Vigneault stopped a postgame question in mid-sentence.

“If you want to talk to me about tonight’s game, I have no issues,” Vigneault said. “Going back to the month of March, I’m not doing that.”

It’s been that kind of season for the Flyers, who were legitimate victims of heavy handedness by the officials judging by the replays.

With the Flyers down 2-0, Morin shoved Casey Cizikas into the boards. Though replays suggested it was a push and no more than a two-minute penalty, the 6-7 Morin’s reputation obviously preceded him.

“Obviously, I don’t agree with the call on Sam,” Vigneault

said. “Referees see the game the way they see it.”

The Flyers killed the penalty and played the rest of the game with just five defensemen, Phil Myers having been scratched and Morin back on the blueline.

Aube-Kubel served the penalty. He then tallied to cut the deficit to 2-1 entering the second period. Voracek’s goal in the second period knotted the game entering the final frame. Voracek set himself up for the winner in overtime, slamming on the brakes and sending a defender to the ice. The shot was a split-second late.

“We should have won that in 60 minutes,” Voracek said.

Vigneault rejected the notion that it was another sluggish start for the Flyers, now six points behind the Bruins for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East with just 17 games remaining.

“It’s not a slow start,” Vigneault said. “We came out doing the right things. … They had two shots and two goals. Not an easy situation to start. But we battled back hard. We’re competing. We’re trying every shift. Nobody put their heads down. We’re trying to do the right things. We had a lot of shot attempts.”

There were just too many mistakes for the Flyers to overcome. Hayes had no business taking a hooking penalty of Ryan Pulock with 2:02 left in overtime, leaving the Flyers skating 3-on-4 the rest of the way.