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Disallowed goal hurts Flyers in overtime loss to Flames

The Flyers fought like crazy to earn a point, but there was a feeling that they let one get away Tuesday night.

The Flyers fought like crazy to earn a point, but there was a feeling that they let one get away Tuesday night.

Some of the Flyers also felt the game never should have reached overtime, after a goal was disallowed in the third period.

Jiri Hudler's goal on assists from T.J. Brodie and Gloucester Catholic product Johnny Gaudreau with 1 minute, 23 seconds into overtime gave the Calgary Flames a 3-2 win over the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Flyers, who were outplayed in the first part of the opening period, earned a point and now trail Boston by five points for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Early in the third period, the Flyers cut Calgary's lead to 2-1 when Sean Couturier converted a Ryan White pass for his 13th goal.

With 15:02 left, a goal by diving Flyers defenseman Nick Schultz was disallowed because of incidental contact with the goalie. The officials conferred with NHL replay officials in Toronto. After a lengthy discussion, they said that the goal was not reviewable and that their original call of no goal stood.

Confused?

Here is the explanation from the NHL office: "At 4:58 of the third period in the Flames/Flyers game, the four on-ice officials huddled and determined that Philadelphia's Nick Schultz made incidental contact in the crease with Calgary goaltender Karri Ramo before the puck crossed the goal line. This is not a reviewable play, therefore the on-ice decision stands - no penalty and no goal Philadelphia."

So, the officials said they never called it a goal.

Flyers coach Craig Berube felt that the officials had made a different decision. "To me, it looked like they called it a goal originally," he said.

Added Schultz: "I don't know if I got pushed from behind or not and ended up going into the net, and if that is how they saw it, that is how they saw it."

Jake Voracek, who sent the puck on net, felt the goal should have stood.

"It's the biggest goal of the season and was disallowed," Voracek said. "I don't know why; he was cross-checked from behind and he hit the puck first."

The Flyers didn't let the call affect them, as they applied constant pressure.

First, Michael Del Zotto hit the post. Then, still buzzing around the net, the Flyers got the equalizer when Mark Streit scored on a rebound of a Michael Raffl shot with 11:45 left. Claude Giroux also earned an assist, the 300th of his career.

The Flames took advantage of a Flyers miscue to score the game's first goal 6:30 into the game. Hudler stole the puck from Del Zotto and fed Sean Monahan, whose lefthanded shot from the right circle beat Steve Mason to the short side, over his left shoulder.

The Flames took advantage of another turnover to grab a 2-0 lead. Wayne Simmonds' backhanded pass was intercepted by Emile Poirer, who passed to Lance Bouma.

Skating from behind the net, Bouma fed Mikael Backlund with an excellent backhand pass. Backlund easily converted in front of the net with 15:02 left in the second period.

The Flyers played an inspired third period, but it only earned them one point.

"The start of the game wasn't good enough," Berube said. "We don't get down 1-0 right away, it could be a different game."

@sjnard