Hall's OT Winner Caps Canes Comeback Over Flyers

Call it a game of role reversal. The Philadelphia Flyers emerged with the early lead in Game 2. But unlike Game 1, the Carolina Hurricanes made their push back and finally got the game even in the third.

Then in overtime, the Flyers were the team that dominated, until in Game 6 last week. But the greasy overtime goal went to Taylor Hall and the Hurricanes, who claimed the 3-2 decision and opened up a 2-0 series lead on Tuesday night.

How It Happened

The Flyers opened the scoring on the power play at 4:02. A loose puck made its way back through the slot to Jamie Drysdale, who fired home his second of the playoffs to make it 1-0. Just 39 seconds later, the Flyers added to the lead with Carl Grundstrom setting up Sean Couturier for his first goal of the postseason.

Carolina got on the board at 10:21 with a power-play goal. Nikolaj Ehlers fired a one-timer off the feed from Jackson Blake to make it a one-goal game.

Both teams had multiple power-play opportunities in a scoreless second, as the Flyers took the one-goal advantage to the third.

With 8:39 left in the third, Seth Jarvis finally broke through with the game-tying goal off the rush, catching the young Flyers forwards behind the play.

That forced overtime, where the Flyers dominated with 15 shots to Carolina's seven. But the Hurricanes got the final blow, as Logan Stankoven was able to keep a play alive in the crease and Hall knocked in the loose puck with 1:06 remaining in overtime.

Box Score

1st Period

PHI Jamie Drysdale (2) PP (Unassisted) 4:02
PHI Sean Couturier (1) (Carl Grundstrom) 4:41
CAR Nikolaj Ehlers (1) PP (Jackson Blake, K'Andre Miller) 10:21

2nd Period

No Scoring

3rd Period

CAR Seth Jarvis (1) (Ehlers, Jordan Staal) 11:21

Overtime

CAR Taylor Hall (3) (Blake, Sean Walker) 18:54

By the Numbers

Shots: Flyers: 36, Hurricanes: 42
Power Play: Flyers: 1-for-7, Hurricanes: 1-for-6
Faceoffs: Flyers: 38.4%, Hurricanes: 61.6%
Goalies: PHI Dan Vladar: 39 saves on 42 shots, CAR Frederik Andersen: 34 saves on 36 shots

Key Performers

⭐ Frederik Andersen — The Hurricanes don't win this game without Andersen. After allowing two goals on the first three shots of the game, Andersen turned aside the next 33 in a row, including 15 in overtime.

⭐⭐ Taylor Hall — Hall has turned back the clock in the playoffs. The game-winning goal gives the former first overall pick three goals and nine points in six games in the postseason.

⭐⭐⭐ Sean Couturier — The Flyers' captain quickly established the two-goal lead and was a constant presence. Couturier did everything possible to drag the Flyers back into the fight, and while the effort was admirable, the result still stings.

The Takeaway

That one stings. The Flyers changed the narrative early and showed they were perfectly capable of hanging with the Hurricanes. The 2-0 lead disappeared as the game progressed, first with a failed clear on a penalty kill and then on a transition rush in the third. And even then, the Flyers didn't blink. They dominated overtime, producing nearly as many shots as they had for the game. But all it takes is one, and Carolina got it after some glorious chances the other way. Now the Flyers face an uphill battle going home down 2-0 in the series. A repeat performance of Game 2 would certainly prevent a sweep, but it's starting to feel inevitable that Carolina is returning to the conference finals.