It’s not a Flyers win without them making you bite your fingernails until the very end. Although the playoffs are all but a hopeful dream at this point, it’s still nice to play spoiler, especially against the Rangers.

The Flyers started pretty slow (shocker), going down 1-0 midway through the first thanks to Brendan Smith. As they have all year, the Flyers picked their play up and started to play a pretty entertaining game. Thanks to Brian Elliott, who made numerous HUGE stops early, JVR’s first goal of the game put the Flyers right back into it.

MOOOOOSEEEE

Adam Fox high-sticked a Flyer in the mouth/neck area, then proceeded to complain to the ref about it, not sure what he could possibly be saying. JVR made sure he made Fox pay while watching from the box. A shot from Konecny goes off of JVR’s face and in, a really scary play. James left the ice and headed down the tunnel under his own power and later returned with a chin shield on. Glad to see JVR wasn’t seriously injured, that looked really bad at first.

Just like that, despite being outplayed in the first, (with some huge saves from Elliot) the Flyers were right back in this game.

The scary but huge goal really seemed to jumpstart the boys. The Flyers started to take over the flow of the game and we finally saw them dictate play. The Giroux line had an entire shift in the offensive zone in the third period, completely taking over play. Eventually, the constant pressure allowed them to draw a penalty, a four-minute high sticking on Couturier.

JVR not only returns to the game after taking a flying frozen puck off the chin, but he returns and scores another goal to put the Flyers up 2-1!

Fuck yeah, #25, respect.

It didn’t last all game (are you surprised). T he Flyer actually gave themselves a two-goal lead from a Jake Voracek SNIPE on a 2 on 1 with Claude Giroux. Giroux made the high IQ play and drove the net, taking a man with him and opening up space for Jake to take a shot.

What a shot it was, 3-1.

Like I said before, it wouldn’t be a Flyers win without them making you bite your nails. Panarin’s 17th of the year to make it 3-2 late in the 3rd period wasn’t enough for the comeback. The boys were able to hold on and help strike a huge dagger on New York’s playoff hopes.

You love to see it.

Wade Allison has impressed me in every game so far. Simple little passes to spring plays, coming back down in his own zone and getting the puck out of danger, it doesn’t matter what it is, Allison does it all. Just an extremely solid hockey player that’s only going to get more comfortable as he plays more games. He’s impressed me with everything other than what he’s actually “known” for, his shot. Wait until he starts settling in to the point where he’s letting shots rip. Dangerous.

Can’t say enough about Shayne Gostisbehere this year. Healthy scratched, waived, you name it, Ghost has been through it. To go through all of that and still come in and play your ass off night in and night out is respectable. He didn’t put his head down and pout, or sneak diss another. He actually came out and was one of the players that spoke up when the team looked like they didn’t know what sport they were playing. Whether Shayne stays or goes next year (a convo for another time), I have been really impressed with #53 this year.

Carter Hart is dealing with a mild knee sprain, according to head coach, AV. He didn’t travel with the team but it isn’t thought to be serious. Lyon will go tomorrow vs Rangers.

Listen to The Liberty Yell

Mandatory Credit: Elsa/Pool Photo via AP (ASSOCIATED PRESS)