Flyers Game
Flyers Report Card: Vladar and Cates Line Stand Out in Loss vs. Panthers
The Philadelphia Flyers lost a close one in their season opener, falling 2-1 to the Florida Panthers.
Despite the loss, there was actually a decent amount to like from Thursday’s loss. Dan Vladar was a very pleasant surprise. The Cates line proved that they have not lost a step from last season. Sean Couturier looked really good as well.
However, it was a loss. There was more than enough to dislike as well. The power play, although they were VERY limited in attempts, seemed to show no improvement in the offseason. There was certainly a lack of discipline as far as taking bad penalties.
While it did not end up hurting them, the Flyers’ defense allowed the Panthers many opportunities. Not to mention, it’s hard to score when shot totals are low, including your lowest total in the third period while trailing by one.
Let’s get into some grades from the Flyers’ 2-1 loss against to the Panthers.
Read More: Flyers Hang With Champs, Drop Opener 2-1 to Panthers
Flyers Report Cards
Dan Vladar: A
Dan Vladar, welcome to Philadelphia. It’s no easy task to make your debut with a new team on the road. It does not get any easier when it comes against the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
Vladar played a heck of a game to start his tenure in Philadelphia. 32 saves on 34 attempts against the Panthers is a solid night. The Flyers’ new netminder came up big at times on Thursday.
Obviously, a one-game sample size is not enough to judge Vladar and how his tenure with the Flyers is going to go. However, it’s one heck of an introduction. Vladar kept the Flyers in this game until the very end.
Noah Cates, Tyson Foerster, & Bobby Brink: A
The Cates line picked up right where they left off. It’s proof that chemistry is one of the most important things when constructing lines.
Noah Cates scored the lone goal for the Flyers on Thursday evening. It was generated from one of many great possessions by the line. Cates had himself a great game. He had a couple of grade A chances. Bobby Brink looked really solid himself, too. He was very noticeable.
Tyson Foerster was not as noticeable, but it doesn’t mean he didn’t have a good game. He took a penalty late in the game, which pretty much nulled any chance of an extra attacker. With an empty net, he likely needed to take the penalty, so you can’t honestly fault him.
From the preseason through Thursday, the Cates line proved you cannot separate them.
The Power Play: C
Look, it’s hard to judge the power play off of one actual attempt. I am not going to sit here and tell you that they’re not going to improve this season.
What I can say is that in the one full power-play attempt the Flyers had, they looked extremely rusty. Puck movement was not really there; they did not get set up or sustain any pressure. Part of why they looked so good in the preseason was the fact that they were able to slow things down, set up, and look for the right opportunity. They did not do any of that on Thursday.
Part of me was wondering why a swap of Tippett for either Cates or Couturier to the top unit has not happened yet. On the top unit, Trevor Zegras, someone who is not great at faceoffs (though he is working on it), is taking the draws. It’s hard to sustain pressure when it’s rare that you even start with the puck. That’s just my two cents.
Offensive Aggression: C
20 shots are not going to win you a hockey game. Especially against a goaltender like Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Flyers needed to be more aggressive with their offensive attacks. I know it’s a cliche, but they needed to get more pucks on net, more bodies out in front, and try anything to generate offense.
It’s like baseball, which is still sort of a fresh wound right about now. If your starters go out and throw a gem, you think you’d be able to win. You can’t win if you don’t score runs, and you can’t score if you’re not swinging the bat and getting hits.
Well, Thursday night, Vladar turned in a gem. He did not get support. I am not saying that if the Flyers got 15 more pucks on net, they would have won. However, more shots equal more chances. Saturday against Carolina, I’d like to see the Flyers use the offensive weapons they have and get a little more aggressive on the attack.
Read More: PhHN Daily: Flyers Game Day; Class of ’26; Sharks Leadership
Grebenkin should have been in the game instead of Deslauriers. Nick still has his place in the game, but not every game.
Flyers did not “Hang” with The Panthers. Those guys barely had t9 put forth effort to win this game. And that was without two of their top forwards off rip. And Florida’s top players are ACTUAL Top players. Not like missing Ristolainen and York. Which could mean little to nothing depending on the night. Especially with York. Who is severely overrated for what he has done in Philadelphia so far. Ghostisbhere was (AND IS STILL) better then any of Drysdale, York, or Andrae. When Sanheim is a 2nd-3rd pair defensemen and Couturier is your 3C-4C is when this team MAY HAVE A CHANCE at actually competing for a playoff spot.
Frank, any hockey credibility you may have is thrown out the window when you say that Sanheim is a 2nd or 3rd pairing defenseman. If his skills did not warrant him being a top pairing defenseman, then why did he already represent Canada in last year’s international competition and if he continues his upswing will possibly represent Canada in the Olympics in 2026.
Much better style of play.
Im still not sold on Zegras as a center but the top line can skate.i
I can see Tocchet getting jack Adam’s votes already.
The Panthers were missing 2 key players but also their biggest missi g piece was the terrible ice that helps them every Spring.
What game were you watching?
Our Flyers did not HANG with the Panthers…..despite Florida missing some top players…..
They CONTROLLED the entire game and treaded us like a High School Hockey team! The score should have been more like 8-1 had they not barely missed on so many open net shots…..
If anything, this game showed us (although only first game of the season) HOW FAR AWAY WE ARE FROM TRULY CONTENDING!
The game where the fourth worst team in the league from last season never trailed the defending champs by more than a goal. Not to mention the game where the Flyers had many great chances, but failed to convert.
Philly was never out of the game until the Foerster penalty late in the game. A lot of it had to do with Vladar, but the Flyers absolutely hung with the Panthers.
Again…..What game were you watching?
Flyers had MAYBE 3 great scoring chances…..Florida had 3x that many….
The Flyers looked very slow compared to the Panthers.
The Panthers were flying up and down the ice while the Flyers were on the defensive the majority of the game.
There one PP opportunity, couldn’t even get set up cuz they couldn’t even gain the Panthers zone until the final seconds of the PP.
Again, first game of season against Cup Champs….as tough to watch!