Flyers keep it close but fall to Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. – Sometimes when confidence is low and scoring is sporadic, it's not a bad idea to play one of the NHL's better hockey teams.

Such was the case on Tuesday night at Lenovo Center when the Flyers gave the Carolina Hurricanes all they could handle.

While the Flyers might be still at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division after a 6-4 loss, they certainly were competitive.

Carolina's Martin Necas scored the game-winner with 29 seconds to play.

Tough way to lose a game. Less than half a minute away from earning at least a point on the road.

Coach John Tortorella's post-game press conference lasted less than half a minute.

He refused to acknowledge any positive developments from this tough loss.

Travis Konecny's second goal of the game at 9:17 of the third period tied the score for the Flyers at 4-4.

Down 3-2 early in the third, Morgan Frost scored his first goal of the season to knot the score. It was a bizarre play, with Frost fanning on a setup but watched the puck crawl across the goal line. But Jack Roslovic countered for Carolina just 29 seconds later to restore the Hurricanes' one-goal edge.

A two-goal burst 54 seconds apart midway through the second period gave the Hurricanes what looked like a comfortable lead.

But a goal from Owen Tippett cut the Hurricanes' lead to 3-2 before the period ended.

Eric Robinson opened the scoring in the middle period with a shot past goaltender Aleksei Kolosov at 8:56. Then Jordan Martinook connected off a close-range shot at 9:50.

Tippett countered for the Flyers when he converted a Konecny feed with a shot past goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov at 13:30.

After the game, Tippett did see some bright spots.

"Tough one to lose but I thought we took some strides," he said. "I think we were up to their level. They're a good team at home. Play quick."

In the first period, the Flyers ended a streak of 12 straight scoreless power plays when Konecny scored when his team was in a five-on-three situation. Konecny was on the doorstep to put back a pass from Matvei Michkov at 7:54 for a 1-0 lead.

Carolina came back to tie it on a bang-bang play involving Jackson Blake and Jack Drury. With the Hurricanes breaking to the net, Drury set up Blake in stride for a shot past Kolosov at 14:25.

During a first intermission televised interview Konecny said getting his goal was the result of some smart play.

"We're doing a good job," he said. "Probably some of the better hockey we've played in a while. It may not look pretty but we're defending hard. Doing the right things and getting some good chances."

Overall, the Flyers' power play is off to a pretty good start. What's been the difference between this year and the three previous, where the Flyers finished dead last in the NHL?

You're going to have those ups and downs through the year," Konecny said. "We just keep working at it every practice. Every day we're looking at film. We just have to work together."

At the morning skate, Tortorella talked about getting more pucks on net. The Flyers had scored only a total of four goals in their last three games.

"As far as the offensive zone, it comes down to a little more will on the puck, too, as far as holding onto pucks and winning more battles," Tortorella said. "I don't think we're pinching down the wall enough because our 'D' (defense) are not seeing the third guy.

"We still just trying to nail it [structure] down. We're kind of in between, that's structural. Some of it is just the will to hold onto pucks and win more battles."

Lineup adjustments

Center Ryan Poehling did not make the trip to Carolina. He has an undisclosed injury and was also tending to a family matter back home. Nick Deslauriers suited up in his place. In addition, defenseman Egor Zamula returned to the lineup after sitting out four games. Erik Johnson was a scratch. Goaltender Samuel Ersson sat out the game due to a lower-body injury he suffered in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Short shots

The Flyers head to Tampa for game 2 of their three-game road trip when they visit the Lightning.

Wayne Fish is a freelance writer. Follow his coverages at www.flyingfishhockey.com