PhHN Daily: Flyers Get a Much Needed Win; Another Goalie Off the Market

The expectations for the Flyers Thursday night were low, at least from me. However, the Flyers looked like a completely different team in their 4-3 shootout win on Thursday against the Lightning.

In other news in today’s edition of the Philly Hockey Now Daily, the Golden Knights lock up a goaltender and grant their coach’s wishes. The Devils may have their own version of what Grimace (yuck) was to the New York Mets (even worse). The Sharks and Blackhawks faced off in the “tank bowl”; the Islanders may be nearing an extension with an aging winger; and lastly, another Metropolitan team may be looking to take advantage of the RFA market.

Read more as the PhHN Daily continues.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have been struggling offensively, and it is not a hidden secret. On Thursday, the Flyers finally got scoring from their team, though it did not come from the players you’d expect. Instead, an unexpected line stepped up and played each of their best games of the season, if not their entire careers.

Travis Konecny is still struggling, and he can do nothing about it. I mean, look at his shootout attempt from last night–it just about sums up how things are going for the Flyers star. He beat Johansson, pretty easily too. However, his shot rang the inside of not just the left post, but the right post too. Konecny had himself a double-doink, and the puck bounced away from the twine, not towards it.

Here’s a little power play update: With Rasmus Ristolainen out on Thursday, Jamie Drysdale stepped into the top unit. They did not score, and yes, the Flyers’ still suck on the power play. However, purely based on the eye test, it looked much, much, MUCH better with Drysdale running the point, rather than Ristolainen. Maybe the Flyers saw that, and will make a permanent change.

One last little Flyers news blurb. I was reading Vegas Hockey Now’s Hannah Kirkell’s Daily Nuggets, and stumbled across a story from The Athletic ($) ranking NHL goaltender tandems. I won’t dive too deep into that–it’s not my story to tell. However, the Flyers fell precisely where you think they would be (I’ll give you a hint: Think Felix Sandstrom).

NHL TRADE TALK, NEWS, & NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW

Vegas Golden Knights: Vegas has locked up its pending UFA goaltender, meaning I have crossed another name off as a possible get for the Flyers this offseason. The Golden Knights and netminder Adin Hill agreed on a six-year, $6.25 million AAV extension, keeping him in Vegas.

Vegas Hockey Now: Bruce Cassidy did not want to “hear the damn cannon all night”. Well, his team granted his wish. The Golden Knights traveled to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. They walked out of Nationwide Arena with the 4-0 shutout win. Cassidy only heard the cannon once pregame, that was it.

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils may have their own Grimace (I almost puked writing that), as a mascot hero to start a late-season surge. Mrs. Feilds won her first cookie race, and the Devils are 2-0 since, including New Jersey’s nailbitting 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers last night.

SJ Hockey Now: EXTRA! EXTRA! SHARKS WIN TANK BOWL! Well, if it was indeed the tank bowl, I guess the Sharks were losers. San Jose and Chicago faced off for the first time with Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard on the ice—the two players who have the potential to be the faces of the league in the not-so-distant future. The Sharks came away with the 4-2 win, though neither Bedard nor Celebrini scored.

NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders were seemingly in blow it up and restart mode. They made the odd decision to hold on to Kyle Palmeri past the NHL trade deadline. Now, it makes a bit more sense. It’s been reported that the Islanders and Palmeri are closing in on an extension. They are “quibbling over term”, but The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun expects a deal to get done, and soon.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Looks the Flyers won’t be the only Metropolitan team doing their homework on the RFA market this summer. He did not flat out say they will be making a splash. However, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas certainly did not shut the door on making an RFA signing. Actually, it sounded more like he was opening the door.