It's Time For The Flyers To Go 'Back To School', As The Coyotes Teach Them A Lesson In OT - Highlights - Analysis- And More

Arizona thwarted a late comeback by the Flyers, to topple the Flyers 5-4 in overtime, on Clayton Keller's hat-trick goal.

1. The Return of JVR:

When James Van Reimsdyk broke a finger blocking a shot on October 25th, a considerable contributor to the Flyers limited offense was lost.

JVR isn't a flashy offensive weapon, but he subtly chalks up points every year. Morgan Frost was the recipient of one of JVR's subtle assists on the Flyers first goal that tied up the game at 1's. JVR looked to be contained behind the Coyotes net, but he made a sensational play to not only win the puck battle, but also hooked the puck to the front of the net to a wide open Frost.

After coincidental penalties, JVR and Frost were quickly thrown back on the ice for 4 on 4 action and produced another beauty 1:59 later.

Having JVR's deft touch back in the lineup is a sign of good things to come. JVR finished the night with 1 goal and 3 assists.

2. Good Tenders on Struggling Teams:

Carter Hart entered Sunday's action with 21 starts; resulting in 8 wins, 8 losses, and 5 OT losses, with 2.75 gaa and .913 save percentage.

Similarly, Karel Vejmelka had 17 starts, recording 7 wins, 7 losses, and 3 OT losses, with a 3.03 gaa and an identical .913 save percentage.

To suggest two goalies representing the 27th and 29th overall teams in the NHL are responsible for their respective teams �success', may sound slightly sarcastic, but both goalies performances this season have not been the reason for their team's failures. In fact, Hart and Vejmelka are largely responsible for their teams limited success and avoiding blowouts.

Tonight however, both goalies showed vulnerability, mainly as the result of loose defense and poor puck luck though. 3 goals came on clear cut breakaways; JVR's on a 2 on 0.

The game winner is a shot Hart would like to have back, as it ducked under his glove and ricocheted off his left hip and in.

3. Special Teams:

In a game featuring two of the leagues worst offensive teams, Arizona ranked 29th with 67 goals and Philadelphia ranked 30th with 66 goals, it wouldn't have been a stretch to think special teams would be needed to produce goals, but there was only one on the night and it belonged to the Coyotes.

Arizona's power play opened the scoring and sniped the only man advantage goal of the game.

If Nicolas Deslauriers presses Keller and takes away his time and space, he has no option, but a short pass to his D partner, as The Coyotes are stacked in front and there isn't an outlet in the red box area highlighted below.

There is no disadvantage to pressuring the puck in that instance, but the obvious disadvantage of not pressuring is giving the oppositions most dangerous player as much time as he wants to create offense.

The Coyotes finished 1 for 1, while the Flyers were 0 for 2 on the man advantage. The Flyers didn't manage many looks on the power play, as Arizona's aggressive style wreaked havoc with their ability to setup.

4. Puck Luck

You can make the right read, make the highest percentage play, but sometimes games can be grossly decided by luck.

With the Flyers up 2 - 1 the Coyotes struck twice in the second period on what can best be described as fortunate puck luck.

Rasmus Ristolainen fired a shot towards the net that deflected perfectly onto Nick Schmaltz's stick, 25 feet away, who laid the puck out on a pillow for a streaking Keller.

Just under 3 minutes later J.J. Moser turned and fired a blind shot at Hart, but the puck bounced off Travis Sanheim's pants and landed right on the stick of Jack Mcbain, who shovelled the puck into the open net.

Impossible to predict and equally difficult to react to. Just bad luck.

5. Sweet Redemption:

Travis Konecny had his shot blocked at the point by Nick Ritchie, who picked up the puck and buried a breakaway on Carter Hart, made up for his miscue with 2:17 left. With the Flyers net empty for the extra attacker, Konecny swatted in a great centering feed from Morgan Frost.

Morgan Frost, who arguably had his best game as a pro, finished the night with 1 goal and three helpers and was a key cog in the Flyers offense. Frost looked like the threat Flyers fans have been waiting see, as he held the puck with poise and displayed creativity throughout the game; something that hasn't been on full display this year. If Frost can click with JVR, it may be his official awakening in the Orange and Black!

6. The Overtime Blues:

One thing was as clear as day in that 5 minute overtime; Rasmus Ristolainen should not see the ice 3 on 3! Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, Cam York, and if you need a fourth D, hell, go with Nick Seeler.

The Flyers once again had opportunities to win it in OT, but could not finish. Cam York made a great stutter step to shake his check and had room on Vejmelka up high, who just managed to get a piece of the biscuit to force it out of play.

A short time later Keller got enough daylight between himself and York to end the game.

As peculiar as Tortorella's decision to roll out Ristolainen in overtime was, so was his decision to let Travis Konecny take an offensive zone draw, when Scott Laughton and Morgan Frost had been winning draws all night; 12 and 8 respectively. Konecny lost the draw clean and the Flyers essentially conceded possession on the draw, with the decision. Why have a winger take a draw when possession is key?

It doesn't get any easier for the Flyers, who travel to Colorado and New Jersey, then return home to face the New York Rangers.