Flyers get spark from Fedotov but lose another costly one, this time in OT
Flyers get spark from Fedotov but lose another costly one, this time in OT originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
As the Flyers walked up the tunnel to start the second period, their 6-foot-7 Russian goalie led them onto the ice.
It was Ivan Fedotov time.
John Tortorella’s change in net seemed to spark his club but it wasn’t enough as the Flyers lost to the Islanders, 4-3, in overtime Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
Morgan Frost forced OT with 9.6 seconds remaining.
Brock Nelson won it 1:24 minutes into the bonus session.
Tortorella’s goalie decision definitely sparked the crowd. Fans applauded every Fedotov save, difficult or simple. They were at their loudest when the 27-year-old denied a Mathew Barzal breakaway over four minutes after Travis Sanheim tied the game at 2-2 early in the second period.
The Flyers (36-29-11) are halfway through a stretch of six straight against teams not in playoff position. So far, they’re 0-2-1 and have been outscored 13-5.
They’ve matched their season-worst losing streak of five (0-3-2) and have dropped 15 of their last 22 games (7-10-5).
To make matters worse, the club lost Sean Couturier in the first period Monday night to an injury.
The Flyers went 1-1-1 against the Islanders (32-27-15) in their three-game regular-season series. All three matchups were decided by one goal.
New York is four points back of the Flyers and has played two fewer games (more on the playoff race below).
• Following a long and difficult journey, Fedotov joined the Flyers last Friday. He was in net three days later making his NHL debut.
He handled himself well, stopping 19 of 21 shots.
After Fedotov stopped his first 14 shots, Anders Lee got him with a deflection in front to hand the Flyers a 3-2 deficit at second intermission.
While his debut provided a highlight, nobody should beat up Samuel Ersson. He’s a 24-year-old rookie who was thrown into No. 1 duties and has played a lot.
Ersson has appeared in 27 of the Flyers’ last 32 games. And he has given the Flyers a ton of reliable starts.
On Monday night, he surrendered two goals on six shots.
Noah Cates gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead in the first period. But within an 18-second span, Matt Martin and Bo Horvat turned that into a 2-1 Islanders lead at first intermission.
New York netminder Semyon Varlamov stopped 29 of the Flyers’ 32 shots.
• The Flyers entered the night holding the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot by two points over the Red Wings. They moved into third place of the Metropolitan Division by a point over the Capitals.
But Washington has three games in hand.
Detroit was in a tight game with the Lightning as the Flyers were playing the Islanders. The Red Wings have played one fewer game than the Flyers.
The Flyers have three days before playing their next game.
• Jamie Drysdale played his first game in five weeks after recovering from an injury to the area of his left shoulder and arm. Tortorella went with a more veteran-laden lineup. More on all of that here.
The Flyers are scheduled to practice Tuesday and Wednesday in Voorhees, New Jersey before they visit the Sabres on Friday (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
