Flyers show some life with Neuvirth
Philadelphia avoids elimination against Washington as former Caps goalie steals the show
— Not so fast, Washington Capitals. One of your former goaltenders isn’t quite ready to hit the golf course.
Michal Neuvirth, dropped into the heat of battle with his team’s season on the line, was instrumental in the third period Wednesday as the Philadelphia Flyers flipped the bird at elimination and beat the Capitals 2-1.
“I believe in myself,” said Neuvirth, who had played in just two games since March 3. “I love playing in the playoffs. I wasn’t worried. I was just going minute by minute. I felt a little rusty early, but the guys did such a good job in front of me.”
The Caps will get another chance to advance to the second round when the clubs meet for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round series Friday in Washington. They lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.
The Flyers got through an injury scare to forward Scott Laughton in the first period — he left on a stretcher after crashing awkwardly into the boards on a hit from the Capitals’ John Carlson — and for 40 minutes played their tightest hockey of the series. The Capitals didn’t generate much and by the time the second intermission came were down 2-0. Overall, Philadelphia, which had 25 shots on Caps goalie Braden Holtby, played with more discipline than it had in the previous three games.
Rookie defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere scored six minutes into the game on a shot from the point, giving the Flyers their first power-play goal of the series on his 23rd birthday. Philadelphia became the last team in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs to score with the man advantage after going 13 power plays without a goal.
Andrew MacDonald, early in the second, scored on another point shot. Wayne Simmonds assisted on both goals for his first two points of the series and captain Claude Giroux also found the scoresheet for the first time with an assist.
Flyers coach Dave Hakstol appeared to be grasping at straws when he decided to put Neuvirth in net. Steve Mason allowed some bad goals in the first three games, but also made some big stops and it wasn’t Mason’s fault that his teammates had scored just two goals.
Neuvirth, drafted by Washington in 2006 and a member of the organization until he was traded to Buffalo in 2014, demonstrated his worth in the third period when he made 12 of his 31 saves.
“Unbelievable,” Simmonds said of Neuvirth’s performance. “He stole one there for us at the end. That’s what we need. Both goalies have been playing great for us all year long. We got a couple of goals and (Neuvirth) brought it home for us.”
The Flyers took the first step to a potential comeback that four clubs in NHL history have accomplished.
Only the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, the Flyers in 2010, the New York Islanders in 1975 and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942 lost the first three games of a best-of-seven series and recovered to win the next four.
It’s a tall task for the Flyers and it’s probably asking too much of a team competing against the Presidents’ Trophy winner.