Fedotov, Flyers’ Offense Find Their Footing Against Lightning – The Hockey Writers – Philadelphia Flyers

When Nikita Kucherov tucked in a full-speed wraparound in the final minute of Thursday night’s first period, it felt like the start of a spiral. Maybe continuation would be a better word given how tenuous the Flyers’ state was when they came into Amalie Arena. The team played one of the last decade’s perennial powerhouses without leading scorer Matvei Michkov (healthy scratch) and their top two starting goaltenders Sam Ersson and Alexsei Kolosov injured.

So, with no one else to turn to, Ivan Fedotov returned to the team’s crease for the first time in two weeks. Even the version of John Tortorella that said he was scared about the team’s goaltending back in the preseason could not have predicted such a poor start for Fedotov, who entered Thursday 68th out of 71 goaltenders with minus-5.1 goals saved above expected (per Moneypuck). And while there’s no shame in giving up a goal to Kucherov, Fedotov was caught flat-footed on the quickly developing chance and in no position to contest it.

Fedotov should have been deep here with only a sharp angle shot. Kucherov as a left hand shot with his stick on the outside opens up the wrap attempt, and also the ability to swing behind and hit the high late forward which would have resulted in a goal because of the overly… https://t.co/jAcFSuPjbV

— Jason Myrtetus (@jasonmyrt) November 8, 2024

It could have been the beginning of another disastrous start. Instead, it would be the only goal he allowed all night.

Fedotov Gets First NHL Win

Though the goal was tough, Fedotov had already shown that he had more in store than the ugly performance in the first six games of his NHL career. It took the Lightning eight minutes to test him but their first shot was an A-plus look for Connor Geekie near the end of a Tampa Bay power play. Yet Fedotov flashed across to stop it.

The Lightning gave him every chance to break by peppering him with nine shots in the first seven minutes of the second period. But instead of letting the negative momentum from Kucherov’s goal spiral, Fedotov picked himself and his team up. The Flyers tightened things up after, allowing just five shots in the final half of regulation. But while they did enough to claw even, the game remained tied after 65 minutes, pitting Fedotov against countryman Andrei Vasilevskiy, a winner of 299 NHL games and a dominant 22-7 in shootouts.

Lightning head…