Flyers Report Card: Flyers Shined All Around

The Philadelphia Flyers cruised to a large 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night. Five different players scored goals, and five other Flyers found themselves on the scoresheet with assists. Four Flyers had multi-point games in the thrashing of the Penguins.

It is not too often, especially this season when you look at a game and have to really think: What went wrong? While most of this season has been spent looking for bright spots, Tuesday night did not leave much to complain about.

Read More: Flyers Offensive Outburst Leads to 6-1 Win vs. Penguins

Flyers Report Card

The First Period: B

This is the lowest grade I will give out on the night.

It reminded me of the days in school when I would go to an exam or work on a big project, put in very minimal effort, and still come out with a good grade. I may have gotten an A on the assignment, but at most, I deserved a B.

In the Flyers’ case, that is what happened in the first period; I am harsher judge than the scoreboard.

The Flyers played a loose, sloppy first period of hockey. They outplayed the Penguins, which was not hard to do, but they in no way deserved to be up 2-0 after the first period. Yet, they were, which is why they got a B.

The Cates Line: A++++++++++++

The Cates line struggled offensively heading into Tuesday’s game. At one point, it was the offensive backbone of this Flyers team, but it had nearly faded away. They were split up for a few games here and there but have found their scoring ways yet again.

Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink all had multi-point games for the Flyers on Tuesday. Each player scored a goal, with Cates striking twice.

The line’s offensive clinic and shutdown defense made them by far the best line on the ice. For the second straight game, the Cates line shut down world class talent. Cates and Brink both carried a rating of +4 in the game and Foerster at +3.

Bobby Brink: A+

Bobby Brink has not received enough credit for his performance this season. It is only right to give him his flowers after a four-point night.

The Flyers forward earned an assist on both Cates’ goals as well as Foerster’s goal. Brink also got a goal of his own. Before Tuesday’s game, Bobby Brink had never had more than two points in a game before. His four points are the most he has totaled in a single game throughout his NHL career.

While the numbers may not suggest it, Brink has been a vital part of the Cates line’s success this season; he deserved to pick up a handful of points on Tuesday.

The Couturier Line: A

Who would have thought that Sean Couturier would be an offensive fit on a line with two of the Flyers’ fastest skaters? I will not lie; I was skeptical at first, but two games in, I think I am just about sold on the Couturier line.

Owen Tippett, Sean Couturier, and Matvei Michkov have once again proved that they can be a dynamic, playmaking line for the Philadelphia Flyers. The line was together on the ice for the first and last goals of the game. Tippett and Michkov’s offensive explosiveness has seemingly elevated Couturier’s threat as well.

Maybe it was just in Tuesday’s game, but Couturier’s two-way ability seemed to rub off a bit on Michkov and Tippett, too. After the 4 Nations break, all three players looked refreshed and playing at a high level again.

Jakob Pelletier: B+

Jakob Pelletier got his first point as a Flyer, earning the secondary helper on the first Noah Cates goal.

Since being traded to Philly, Pelletier has often been referred to as an energy guy. That is exactly what he brought to the Flyers Tuesday night.

He did not do anything spectacular–Pelletier did not stand out too much. What he did do was play every shift at a high energy level. He was all over the ice. He helped generate a couple of good chances for the Flyers’ fourth line that were just not converted.

Pelletier and what he can and will eventually bring to the Flyers still remains a mystery, but his second game wearing the orange and black showed a lot of promise from the newly aqcuired 23 year old.

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