Flyers’ Locker Room: Konecny Shines, Frost Gaining Confidence

The Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets took to the ice on Tuesday night. It started off feeling like a “which team is worse?” kind of game. Things were sloppy as can be in the first period before the game opened up in the final two periods. It ended in a 5-3 Flyers victory, though.

While Travis Konecny was the clear player of the game, it was other players under the age of 25 that stepped up in this one. Morgan Frost and Owen Tippett helped the Flyers come back from a 2-1 deficit in the second period.

Cam York grabbed two assists in the win and has been doing all of the right things since coming back up from Lehigh Valley. This Philadelphia Flyers team is still a distance away from truly competing in this league. But a game like tonight showed they have plenty of young players who could be building blocks and help turn things around.

Travis Konecny Stays Hot

It doesn’t matter what situation Konecny is put in, he simply finds a way to contribute. He did that on both sides of the puck Tuesday, and in multiple situations. He grabbed the first shorthanded goal of his career as he has added penalty killing to his repertoire.

“I just feel the PK is one of those things where you gotta get your feet moving. You gotta be playing the right way and in the right positions,” Konecny said. “So it gets me engaged a lot of times.”

As it has been with Frost, confidence can be big for any player when things are going right. Konecny has 14 goals in 27 games after finishing with 16 in 79 games last season. But he didn’t take all the credit himself.

“A lot of that just comes from playing with guys that are making the right plays that are coming to me,” Konecny said on his linemates. “Over the course of the year, all the guys that I’ve been with are getting me the puck and doing the right things. The bounces are just going in for me right now.”

Konecny has been around some tough times with the Philadelphia Flyers over the years. But a game like tonight helped show that brighter days are ahead. It’s been James van Riemsdyk’s line in particular that has helped lead the way as well.

“I think that line has played so well since that Arizona game when they were put together,” Konecny said of the JVR-Frost-Tippett trio. “Reemer does a good job; he’s a vet on that line. He does a lot of good things. But those two guys (Frost and Tippett) are playing really, really well. All the young guys are playing the right way and playing hard. And it’s good to see.”

Morgan Frost Scores Another Goal

Frost who now has three goals in his last five games, is clearly playing with more confidence. As the opportunities continue to come at the NHL level, we are seeing the kind of growth John Tortorella envisioned from Frost.

“It helps, for sure. I think just trying to play hard and learn as much as I can. And do the right things to keep being put in those opportunities.” Frost said after the game. “I’ve got to give credit to my linemates; they’ve been doing a great job. And we’re all playing well together.”

His line, with Tippett and van Riemsdyk, has worked well since they were put together. There was a moment recently when Tortorella almost broke the trio up. He decided to stick with them and it paid off.

“I think we all kind of complement our games well. I think we all have very different skill sets.” Frost said on his line’s chemistry. “We’re communicating really well. It’s paying off on the ice.”

Owen Tippett Scores Twice

As for Tippett, he ended up with two goals in the game as his second hit the empty net in the final minutes. His first goal, though, was an important one as it gave the Flyers the lead for good at 3-2.

“I know the penalty was running out so I wanted to kind of keep the puck down low,” Tippet said of his goal, scored shortly after the Flyers’ power play expired. “Beezer (Farabee) made a great (play) finding that open area down low and made a great pass through his legs.”

Tortorella talked about Tippett’s puck retrieval and how he thought he did a great job in that aspect.

“It’s been something I’ve kind of wanted to complete,” Tippett said of his puck retrievals. “Sometimes I’m there and in the right spots. But just getting that retrieval and putting the guy on my back, making sure I’m in those right spots”

The Philadelphia Flyers locker room got a nice view of the youth that has been forced to play big minutes. And they have all handled it well. The team will have one more practice and then hit the road before the Christmas break. They’ll have stops in Toronto on Thursday and Carolina on Friday.