Eric Hartline — USA TODAY Sports
Flyers Didn't Have To Pull Their Goalie But Did Anyway, Leading To Capitals Clinching; Oshie & Ovechkin Comment On Move As Tortorella Defends Decision & Explains Blunder
The Philadelphia Flyers were in a tough spot against the Washington Capitals, and there were heavy decisions to be made to say alive.
Philadelphia needed a regulation win over D.C. to keep its playoff hopes alive, but also needed help from the out-of-town scoreboard, as a point or more from the Detroit Red Wings would mathematically eliminate them.
Ultimately, the Flyers found themselves with their backs against the wall, their tilt with Washington tied 1-1 and Detroit down by one with just seconds left in its game.
So, Philadelphia head coach John Tortorella signaled for Samuel Ersson to come to the bench with just over three minutes left, and seconds later, T.J. Oshie would hit the empty net to put the Capitals in front and secure a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"It was kind of surprising, actually. Skating on the ice, I didn't even know that the goalie was out," Oshie admitted postgame. "It felt good, it was such a good game. It's kind of unfortunate that that's the way that it has to end. They obviously needed the regulation win, so it's understanding, but that was a tough battle. That was a tough fight out there for us."
What Tortorella didn't know, though, was that in the midst of his decision, the Red Wings tied it to force overtime, mathematically eliminating the Flyers anyway with their guaranteed point. So ultimately, pulling the goaltender was unnecessary, and the game could have gone to overtime or the shootout, where Philly still had the chance to put D.C.'s season at risk.
"Detroit get a point and they still pull the goalie. They didn't know that," Alex Ovechkin said postgame. "But we'll take it. Thanks, Philly."
Ultimately, though, Tortorella stood by his decision, saying that he didn't have any information on the Detroit game until after Oshie's goal.
"I think it happened pretty close together. I'm pulling him. I'm pulling him, and that was the right time to pull him," Tortorella said. "Didn't know anything was going on with Detroit at that time but immediately after that, our videos guys tell us that detroit just went to overtime."
At the end of the day, that move was the one that ended up eliminating Detroit, too, and Washington will face the New York Rangers in the first round.
