Frost Bite: Flyers’ Center Plays with Edge in Win Against Oilers

Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost had a solid game in Thursday night’s 2-1 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Frost was pointless, but equaled a career-high with five shots on goal, displayed lots of creativity, helped keep Connor McDavid goal-less, and contributed a key shootout goal.

During his post-game TV interview, Frost said he wasn’t too fond of his performance Monday against the Islanders coming out of All-Star break.

“I think for me I was pretty disappointed with my game, and I wanted to come out and prove that I can still play at the level I want to be playing at,” he said on NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think when I’m playing a little more engaged and using my body, that’s when I’m at my best versus maybe shying away from contact sometimes.”

Playing a ‘harder game’

Frost, 23, said he “tried to play a harder game tonight, and obviously they’ve got a lot of weapons over there. Just trying to play safe while still doing some of the things that I do out there.”

In the shootout, Frost scored on a sweet move, one in which he was able to get Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner to the left and beat him glove side.

Frost, a first-round selection (27th overall) in the 2017 draft,  has 25 points (10 goals, 15 points) in 52 games. He’s been used primarily as a center this season, playing most of the year with veteran James van Riemsdyk and another promising forward, Owen Tippett.

On Thursday, Frost skated on a line with Joel Farabee and Wade Allison, and made an impact all over the ice. He made countless good plays with the puck, and was very noticeable when shielding the puck in the corners or along the walls.

Really good sequence here for Frost. Nice play (risky, but confident) on the breakout. Saw the ice and took it, won puck battles, chance coming off the wall, & finished check. Great stuff. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/mQQVzTkgAU

— Christopher Maher (@_ChrisMaher) February 10, 2023

In these two above videos, he made a few heads-up plays. It was a risky play to go up the middle on the breakout, but he’s done that before and it’s worked out in his favor. He kept the play alive by absorbing a hit and keeping his feet moving on the eventual scoring chance in front of the net. There was a lot to like about Frost Thursday, and his overall game has improved since the start of the season.

Frost is on pace for 35-40 points this season, which is about where you would want him to be. He hasn’t always been as consistent as Thursday, but he has taken lots of positive steps.

“He played good tonight,” said Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella, adding he wasn’t happy with some of Frost’s previous few games. “Scores a big shootout goal for us; got rewarded there. Like I say, everyone keeps asking me about Frosty, but you need to see it consistently. Got another tough team coming up here (Nashville on Saturday). Hopefully he keeps on playing (like this). I thought he had a really good game tonight”.

Tortorella knows there can be more from Frost, but it’s safe to say he was pleased with his performance Thursday.