By Jenny Masters
This was a game Flyers fans had pointed to as a true test of the team’s credentials as an NHL contender.
And the Flyers failed.
William Nylander scored twice and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Flyers 3-0.
Carter Hart finished with 30 saves for the Flyers.
“They were playing a real solid game and it was tough to get those Grade-A chances,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said.
Nylander made it 1-0 with 8:49 left in the second period on a fluke goal. The puck deflected off his right toe and under Hart’s right arm after Jake Muzzin’s pass went off defenseman Travis Sanheim’s stick and high into the air near the crease. It originally was ruled no goal by the officials due to a kicking motion but overturned after video review.
Kase made it 3-0 with 6:27 to play. Alexander Kerfoot outhustled Flyers defenseman Justin Braun, went behind the net and then beautifully set up Kase in the slot for a finishing wrist shot.
“Our effort from the puck drop was solid,” Matthews said.
Both teams were sloppy in the first period and Hart kept the game scoreless with several strong saves early in the second. He had a good pad stop from close range on David Kampf’s attempt 4 1/2 minutes into the middle period and another pad save on Matthews’ slap shot from the slot about 2 minutes later.
The Flyers’ offense heated up as well but couldn’t get past Campbell. Sanheim’s blast from the point 7 1/2 minutes into the period was turned away by Campbell’s blocker, and the Maple Leafs’ goalie used his left pad to deny Cam Atkinson’s slapper from the top of the circle on the power play.
