Flyers Collapse in Third Period, Fall 4-1 to Hurricanes
The Philadelphia Flyers had a tough night on the ice Tuesday, and it all unraveled in the third period. Facing the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena, John Tortorella’s squad was in the game for the first 40 minutes. But when the final horn sounded, the Flyers were left licking their wounds after a 4-1 loss, with the Hurricanes dominating the final frame.
What Went Wrong?
Heading into the third period, the Flyers were trailing by just one goal, down 2-1. It was a manageable deficit, and they had shown some fight earlier in the game. But the Hurricanes came out firing in the final 20 minutes, and the Flyers simply couldn’t keep up. Carolina scored two unanswered goals in the third, putting the game out of reach and leaving the Flyers searching for answers.
“We just got spanked in the third period,” head coach John Tortorella said bluntly after the game. It’s hard to argue with his assessment. The Flyers were outshot 12-4 in the third period and looked completely outmatched as the Hurricanes turned up the heat.
Key Moments and Players
The Hurricanes opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from Michael Bunting, who capitalized on a defensive breakdown by the Flyers. Philadelphia managed to respond in the second period when Cam Atkinson found the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1. But Carolina quickly regained the lead with a power-play goal from Teuvo Teravainen, and the Flyers never recovered.
In the third period, the Hurricanes put the game away with goals from Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Seth Jarvis. Kotkaniemi’s goal came just 1:11 into the period, setting the tone for Carolina’s dominant finish. Jarvis added the exclamation point with a shorthanded goal, a dagger that sealed the Flyers’ fate.
Flyers’ Struggles Continue
With the loss, the Flyers dropped to 4-4-1 on the season. It’s been an up-and-down start for Philadelphia, and this game highlighted some of the team’s biggest issues. The Flyers struggled to generate offense, managing just 17 shots on goal all night. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes peppered Flyers goalie Carter Hart with 31 shots, and while Hart made some big saves, he couldn’t bail out his team in the third period.
Special teams were another sore spot for the Flyers. Carolina’s power play went 1-for-3, while Philadelphia failed to convert on any of its three opportunities with the man advantage. The Flyers also gave up a shorthanded goal, a mistake that Tortorella surely won’t let slide.
Looking Ahead
The Flyers will need to regroup quickly as they continue their road trip. Their next game is Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, and they’ll need a much better effort if they want to get back in the win column. Tortorella has been preaching accountability and hard work since taking over as head coach, and this game will likely serve as a teaching moment for his young team.
For the Hurricanes, the win improved their record to 6-4-0. Carolina is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and they showed why in this game. With a deep roster and a relentless style of play, the Hurricanes are a tough matchup for any team, and they proved it against the Flyers.
Takeaways
- The Flyers were outshot 31-17, including a lopsided 12-4 margin in the third period.
- Carolina’s special teams were a difference-maker, with a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal.
- Philadelphia’s record now stands at 4-4-1, while Carolina improved to 6-4-0.
- Cam Atkinson scored the Flyers’ lone goal, his fourth of the season.
It’s still early in the season, but the Flyers will need to find more consistency if they want to stay competitive in the Metropolitan Division. Games like this one, where they’re in it for two periods but fall apart in the third, won’t cut it against top-tier teams like the Hurricanes.
As for Tortorella, his postgame comments suggest he knows exactly what went wrong. Now it’s up to him and his players to fix it.
Originally Written by: Jordan Hall
