Jagr Shines As Flyer’s Blaze Past Leafs 4 to 2

Off a huge OT win to continue their torrid start to the season the Toronto Maple Leafs fell 4-2 as they visited the Philadelphia Flyers.

 

Gustavsson started in place of injured James Reimer and Sergei Bobrovsky took the raines instead Ilya Bryzgalov.. Gustavsson looked good early as the Flyers began to pile on the pressure off and on. The Leaf powerplay was horrible, yet again, as they could barely enter the zone on the first two attempts.  Six minutes in, league leader, Phil Kessel spots the open puck and sniped it top corner for a 1-0 Leafs lead. A frightening moment happened shortly afterward as Chris Pronger left the game with a facial injury sustained from a shot follow through by Mikhail Grabovksy. The screams Pronger let out as he immediately skated for the dressing room left everyone concerned. It is reported that the eye area is to swollen for an immediate update on injury. On a positive note the game saw a bright spot from a past star. Jaromir Jagr ties the game late in the first by showing he still has it by splitting the D then going upstairs blocker side. Jagr demonstrated the speed and skill reminiscent of his earlier years to net his first goal of the year, 1296 days since his last NHL goal.

 

The second period was back and forth until, on the power play, Scotty Hartnel gave Philly a 2-1 lead as he poked the puck past Gustavsson who couldn’t hold on after making a nice pad save. The first line for the Flyers dominated the game and continued to produce as Jagr controlled down low, dished to Giroux who feed it to Hartnell for his second of the night. Then Frattin showed his speed as he broke into the zone and sauced one to Steckel who awkwardly redirected the puck off his shaft then off Babrovsky’s stick and in for a 3-2 game. The excitement wasn’t done as Jagr scored his second of the game on a centre ice breakaway bringing the Philadelphia fans to their feet.  Flyers outshot the Leafs 30 to 26 in a closely contested battle that ended 4-2 for the broad street bullies.

 

By: Liam Niven