Toews scores in last game with Blackhawks in OT loss to Flyers

CHICAGO -- Jonathan Toews scored in his final game with the Chicago Blackhawks, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at United Center on Thursday.

Toews scored on a redirection of a shot by Andreas Athanasiou at 7:40 of the second period for his 15th goal of the season.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson announced they would not re-sign the longtime captain, who began his NHL career with them at the start of the 2007-08 season and played 1,067 games (372 goals, 511 assists). Toews nearly won the game for Chicago in overtime but was stopped on a breakaway by Felix Sandstrom with 2:16 left.
Afterwards, Toews, who helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015) was saluted by the fans and persuaded to take a postgame lap by his teammates.
"I'm blown away," Toews said. "I really felt almost unworthy of a moment like that."

Ivan Provorov scored at 3:09 of overtime, and Travis Konecny had two goals and an assist for Philadelphia (31-38-13). Sandstrom made 34 saves.
Provorov won it when he took a pass from Konecny, split two defenders and scored on the forehand.
"It was exciting," said Flyers assistant Darryl Williams, who was behind the bench again while head coach John Tortorella observed from the press box. "It was the last game of the year, but there were a lot of things -- Jonathan Toews, obviously, celebrating his career. And then we had Justin Braun in his last game with us. It was great. Everyone played hard, both teams right to the end. Exciting finish."

Athanasiou tied the game at 18:00 of the third period and had two assists, and Alex Stalock made 31 saves for Chicago (26-49-7).
It was the season finale for each team.
Konecny's 30th goal of the season gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead just 26 seconds of the first period. Morgan Frost skated down the right side and passed the puck in the slot to Konecny, who scored on a one-timer.
Konecny scored again at 6:21, putting in a rebound after Stalock saved Frost's backhand.
"Obviously, I wanted to finish strong with the team," Konecny said. "But also, [30 goals] was a personal goal of mine. Credit to the guys I played with all year. A lot of the goals, if you go back, are just put in an empty net. That's always credit to your teammates. Yeah, it was nice."

Jujhar Khaira cut it to 2-1 at 7:28, scoring on a rebound of Connor Murphy's shot.
Anders Bjork tied it 2-2 at 9:20 after Sandstrom made an initial save on Athanasiou's backhand.
The Flyers went ahead 3-2 just 46 seconds into the second period when Owen Tippett picked off a pass by Seth Jones after Stalock had gone behind the net to make a backhand pass to Jones.
Noah Cates gave Philadelphia a 4-2 lead on a power play at 4:22 after Konecny fed him in the slot.
Toews cut it to 4-3 when he scored on a power play at 7:40 after winning a face-off, scoring on a redirection from Athanasiou for his first goal since Jan. 28.
Athanasiou tied it with two minutes left in the third, knocking in a loose puck in front after a shot by Seth Jones from beyond the left face-off circle.
"I think he was determined tonight and how unselfish of him to find Toews for that special moment on that goal," Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said of Athanasiou. "That shows growth. The players all loved him as a teammate and even more so now.
"And then [he] took care of his own business, he got his 20th goal at the end of the game and hung in there. Not only is he happy to get the 20thh goal, but he wanted to get that win for his captain."

Braun announced afterwards it was his last game. The 36-year-old defenseman had 199 points (34 goals, 165 assists) in 842 regular-season games with the Flyers, New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks. He had 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 119 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"That's it, but it was an amazing run," Braun said. " … The guys, every guy I played with, it's been an absolute honor. It's a tough day, but it was a great run."
Toews said he has not made a decision on whether he would seek to play for another team next season. But he wasn't lamenting not getting the OT winner in his Blackhawks finale.
"It was still perfect," he said. "It's the way it went. It would have been nice to see that on go in and finish my last game in that fashion, but I'm not looking back. I have no regrets. It was perfect."