The first period was extremely physical and had all the elements of a typical rivalry game. Some hits resulted in penalties and both teams had their fair share of opportunities. The Flyers squandered a 2 man advantage mainly because they were careless with the puck. Every time they got close to scoring, someone would turn it over and the possession would be lost. Aside from the squandered opportunities, the first period was very exciting hockey to watch. Both teams used their speed and physicality to create opportunities. Also Bobrovsky had 10 saves in the opening period and looked extremely solid in net.
In the second period, Zac Rinaldo scored his first career goal and the first of the game. Rookie Sean Couterier dug out a puck from behind the net and centered it to a wide open Rinaldo. The Flyers then took a 2-0 lead thanks mainly to Jaromir Jagr. Jagr skated into the zone and retained possession of the puck as he went all the way around the back of the net. Then he snapped a quick pass right in front of the net across to a wide open Claude Girous who burried the empty netter to make it a 2-0 game.
But then the Flyers got sloppy once again. They started to lose faceoffs and as a result the Devils snuck a cheap goal past Bob to come within one. The Flyers then turned it over in their own zone which resulted in a 2 on 1 for the Devils and Adam Henrique wristed one past Bob to tie it at 2.
Max Talbot cashed in on a penalty shot in the third, but the Flyers again got sloppy with the puck and the Devils quickly tied it at 3. Both teams got their opportunities in the extra session but the game would eventually go to a shootout to determine a winner.
After a controversial shootout goal by Danny Briere, the Devils eventually won thanks to Patrick Elias who slid the puck under the pad of a stunned Bobrovsky. Bob got his pad in the right position, but Elias found a way to sneak it past him for the game winner.
Overall it was a very frustrating game to watch. The Flyers showed flashes of absolute brilliance, but at other times they looked like a rookie team. They were extremely sloppy with the puck especially in their own zone. Careless turnovers led to goals for the Devils and the Flyers allowed the Devils to continue to get back in the game on numerous occasions.
But at other times the Flyers looked great. Jagr created a ton of opportunites, young guys like Rinaldo stepped up, and Bobrovsky looked pretty solid in net. The Flyers just need to patch up their game right now. Whether the sloppy play and lack of discipline is due to the youth or their overall lack of chemistry, the Flyers have to get things figured out. Because right now they are killing themselves with dumb mistakes.
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