Flyers Game
Three Flyers Thoughts: York Benched, Team Gone Missing & More
The Philadelphia Flyers’ 7-2 loss is a perfect example of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Although, it was more like the ugly, the bad, and a tiny sliver of good.
After a terrible game against the Blackhawks on Sunday, the Flyers somehow topped it with an even worse loss on Tuesday.
Things have certainly taken a turn for the worst in Philadelphia, which, depending on the eye of the beholder, may not be such a bad thing.
In no particular order, here is the ugly, the bad, and the tiny sliver of good.
Read More: John Tortorella is Brutally Honest After Flyers’ Embarrassing Loss
Cam York Benched for Final 49:23 of the Game
The Flyers jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Toronto tied it after the Flyers won a draw in the defensive zone, Cam York lost a puck battle behind the net, and William Nylander found John Tavares in the slot to even the score at one.
Consequently, York was benched for the rest of the game.
To that point, the Flyers’ defenseman had not done anything particularly poor. However, it was a pretty bad play by York, losing the puck battle, and it looked like Tavares’ shot kicked in off the skate of York–an unfortunate sequence for the Flyers.
Tavares scored with 9:23 remaining in the first period, and York would not see the ice again in the final 49:23 of the game.
York was a healthy scratch not so long ago. However, with the Flyers not having any other healthy defenseman on the roster and no call-ups remaining, York will likely get a shot at redemption on Thursday.
A big decision is looming for York and the Flyers. With the reported separation in contract talks, it really does make you wonder if this could be the beginning of the end for York in Philly.
Read More: Flyers Embarrassed By Leafs, Lose 7-2
Team Gone Missing
Cam York was not the only Flyer to have a bad game.
The Philadelphia Flyers as a team seemingly went missing. They played a decent first period–it was nothing to write home about (says the person who is writing about it), but they at least looked like they could hang around.
After, it looked like the Flyers just sort of fell asleep at the wheel. The Maple Leafs were skating laps around the Flyers. They were moving the puck around the zone, taking their time and setting up in the offensive zone, and the bullied the Flyers all night.
The Leafs beat the Flyers in every basic stat except for one: giveaways, though the Leafs did have their fair share of turnovers as well. Toronto out hit the Flyers by one, but every other stat was pure dominance; dominance at the dot, in the shot battle, blocked shots, and even going 1/1 on the power play.
The Flyers went missing, and the Maple Leafs took advantage of it.
The Good
Let’s look at some of the good.
Jakob Pelletier is starting to look noticeably better now that he is playing on a scoring line. It would be nice to see him score some goals, especially since he has yet to light the lamp as a Flyer. However, he is starting to get aggressive, and that’s a good thing. He is getting to the puck and winning battles, which for someone of his size is impressive. After a lackluster start to his Flyers career, he is certainly turning it around lately.
With York getting benched, Jamie Drysdale picked up a lot of slack. He led all Flyers defensemen in time-on-ice Tuesday night and led the team in blocked shots. His durability has been an issue throughout his career, so seeing him play 26+ minutes was nice. His rating was -4, but the number was not a direct representation of his play. Regardless, he is not, and will never be, a defensive defenseman. He picked up another point with the primary assist on Sean Couturier’s goal.
Speaking of Sean Couturier, that line of Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny, and Couturier has looked really promising since being put together. It’s a shame that it took until now for Michkov (or Konecny) to finally play and look comfortable on the off-wing, but those two are meant to play together. Couturier is a beneficiary of their success. His goal on Tuesday is his fourth straight game with a point.
Read More: Calder Trophy Watch: An Update on Michkov’s Chances
If Torts stays….Yorkie will probably be moved in a trade this July.
It’s a shame that the Caps extended Chychrun the other day. The possible trade with the Sens and him being available in July gave me hope that a second generation could be a Flyer.
That would have been great,but you can’t blame him for staying with the caps.The caps have older players but look at the two ahl teams,the caps have the two time defending Calder cup champions to pull prospects from,and the flyers have the phantoms.Enough said there, YIKES.