Postgame RAV4: Flyers Drop 5-2 Decision to Capitals

Rick Tocchet's Philadelphia Flyers dropped their preseason opener, 5-2, to the Washington Capitals on Monday at Giant Center in Hershey.

Cole Knuble produced a goal and an assist for the Flyers. Jack Studnicka scored the game's first goal. Joseph Woll played the first two periods in net, stopping 16 of 19 shots. Carson Bjarnason played the final 20 minutes.

1ST PERIOD

Cole Kuble created an early power play for the Flyers. Jack Studnicka (1st) took a Knuble pass along the goal line, moved to shooting position and beat Charlie Lindgren at 2:42. Knuble and Jett Luchanko earned the assists.

At 4:11, Oliver Bonk took a slashing penalty in trying to recover a check defensively. The Flyers killed off the minor.

Garrett Wilson dropped the gloves with Dylan McIlrath at 8:40. Wilson was standing up for Noah Powel. Wilson received an extra minor. Shortly thereafter, the Flyers' Simon Benoit took a delay of game penalty, creating a 5-on-3 for Washington.

Joseph Woll made a tremendous 5-on-3 pad save. However, shortly thereafter, Aliaksei Protas ((PPG, 1st) scored on a bouncer that went in off Woll. Jacob MacDonald and Dylan Strome received the assists.

Ryan Leonard (1st) moved in from up high and fired a snap shot over Woll's left shoulder for a 2-1 lead at 19:18. The assists went to Ryan Chesley and Justin Holl.

SHOTS: Capitals 11 - Flyers 7

2ND PERIOD

Late in the first period, Denver Barkey took a hard hit from Martin Fehervary. He returned for the second period but left after his first shift.

Knuble (1st goal, 2nd point) scored a tap-in on a deflected shot to tie the game at 2-2 at the 8:06 mark. The assists went to Wilson and Bonk.

Hunter McDonald delivered a clean hit on Leonard along the boards. Andrew Cristall went after the much larger McDonald, receiving a cross-checking major and game misconduct for the high hit. The best save of the night was a stop by Woll on a shorthanded breakaway. The Flyers generated four shots on goal.

With play back at 5-on-5, the Caps caught the Flyers in a line change. Strome (1st) faked a pass to Jordan Kyrou and then fired a shot over Woll at 18:17. The assists went toor Kyrou and Chesley.

SHOTS: Capitals  8 (19 overall) -  Flyers 11 (18 overall)

3rd PERIOD

Carson Bjarnason entered the game to start the third period.  At 1:57, Jonny Brodzinski fired the period's first shot off the crossbar, the post and into the net. The assists went to Ethan Frank and Chesley (3rd assist of the game).

Philly went back to the power play at 7:55. However, Brodzinski (SHG, 2nd) fired a Fehervary shot short side high over Bjarnason for a 5-2 edge at 9:45.

SHOTS: Capitals 8 (27 overall) -- Flyers 2 (20 overall)

Starting lineup

Zach Aston-Reese - Denver Barkey - Porter Martone
Alex Bump - Jett Luchanko - Cole Knuble
Carl Grundstrom - Jack Studnicka - Matthew Gard
Garrett Wilson -Riley Thompson - Noah Powell

Simon Benoit- David Jiricek

Hunter McDonald - Oliver Bonk
Ty Murchison - Helge Grans

Joseph Woll
Carson Bjarnason

POSTGAME RAV4

1.Pairings

The Flyers rested all five of their incumbent defensemen (Travis Samheim, Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Nick Seeler).

2. Roster battles

The Flyers took a look at various defensemen vying for one job on the NHL roster: David Jiricek, Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald,Ty Murchison and veteran Simon Benoit.

3. Special teams

The Flyers' failed five-minute advantage, the Washington shorthanded goal plus a power play goal were the difference makers. Both teams were officially 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

4. Positional experimentation: wings and centers

Barkey started out in the middle but his early game injury created some combination juggling.