CALGARY — The legs and the effort have been there. The finish hasn’t been. The result is one shootout win and one regulation loss for the Flyers so far this season, including Saturday’s 6-3 defeat by the Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
In their defense, the Flyers have been handed some difficult circumstances over the past couple of weeks. They didn’t get the benefit of a final NHL-roster tune-up in their preseason finale, thanks to the ludicrous situation of the Devils icing essentially an AHL squad on Oct. 3 with their NHL team in Europe. The Flyers then boarded what will be their longest flight this season to open on Friday in Vancouver, and were right back at it on Saturday in Calgary for the second of a back-to-back.
They are owed some measure of sympathy. Some guys, particularly the forwards, might not be fully on the same page with one another just yet, or not quite dialed in on their details enough to find the back of the net.
Scoring a goal remains the single hardest feat in today’s NHL. The Flyers have two total five-on-five goals through two games.
Against the Flames, the Flyers dominated possession for the first half of the game, but too many scoring chances were squandered. They had a significant 31-16 edge in shots after two periods but trailed 3-2. By the time the game was over, 16 Flyers shots had missed the net, including five from Owen Tippett.
TK lights the lamp and grabs that puck for MM39. #PHIvsCGY | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/jKEezH507J
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 13, 2024
Meanwhile, rookie Matvei Michkov and linemate Travis Konecny, who nearly connected on a few chances against the Canucks but couldn’t quite put one home, finally did so on a late third-period power play on Saturday when Michkov found Konecny in front of the net on a six-on-four advantage with goalie Ivan Fedotov pulled for an extra attacker.
But it was a garbage time goal. Earlier, late in the first period, Michkov gained control of a puck in the neutral zone and fed Konecny for a shot off the rush that goalie Dustin Wolf ate up, and in the third period, Konecny nearly tied it just off the far post on a feed from Michkov but couldn’t fight his way through a hard stick of defender Brayden Pachal. Had one of those gone in, the game might have turned out differently.
“We’ve had a lot of chances that we didn’t bury, myself included,” said Joel Farabee, who missed a tap-in goal on Friday in Vancouver but scored the Flyers’ lone even-strength goal on Saturday. “I think there’s some things to like, and some things to clean up, too.”
Coach John Tortorella is still seeking chemistry on his lines. Michkov and Konecny were split up at times on Saturday, while the coach also removed rookie Jett Luchanko from the lineup and inserted Noah Cates. All four forward lines were different for the start of Saturday’s game than they were for Friday’s.
“I’m not sure who’s going to fall with who,” Tortorella said after the loss when asked about his combinations.
They’re likely to continue to be in flux for at least the rest of the road trip, which has games remaining in Edmonton and Seattle. The surprise addition of Luchanko to the roster, something no one expected when camp began, has created a glut of forwards. Tortorella would like them all to play, and mentioned before Saturday’s game that he’d like to get Nic Deslauriers in a game sooner than later, too, after the tough guy has been a healthy scratch for each of the first two.
The Luchanko scratching was at least a little puzzling for a couple of reasons: Tortorella steadfastly praised Luchanko’s legs and stamina throughout camp, so playing in a back-to-back would seem to be doable for him. Further, the Flames lineup, at least on paper, is probably the weakest of the four teams the Flyers will play on this trip. If Luchanko returns on Tuesday, he will likely be taking at least a few faceoffs against Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl, for example.
Tortorella said he had a conversation with Luchanko that he’ll “keep between him and I.” As for his rationale for removing the 18-year-old on Saturday, he said: “Young kid, a lot of travel, time changes — all the things that come with this first trip with us. … He understands what he has to do to get ready for his next game.”
As a group, both Farabee and Jamie Drysdale mentioned something they all need to do better. The Flyers have put an emphasis this season on more traffic in front of the net and more deflections and redirections.
That requires precise timing. Again, details.
“One thing we’re trying to focus on now is getting more tips and traffic in front of the goalies, and things like that,” Farabee said. “Our first two games we really haven’t gotten much traffic. Maybe get a couple greasy ones.”
Said Drysdale: “I think honestly as a team it’s been two pretty good games in terms of shots, (and) generating. (Tortorella) has put an emphasis on getting more guys to the net, getting screens, getting tips. Getting a couple more goals in the dirty areas.”
They believe it will come.
“The energy was good. Had some looks. Misfired, fanned on some pucks,” Tortorella said. “I think the last bit of the offense at times just didn’t finish.”
(Top photo of Travis Konecny controlling the puck against Calgary: Sergei Belski / Imagn Images)
