Flyers Analysis: Tocchet’s Message Lands in Gritty 5-4 Win vs. Canadiens

The Flyers have not had many, if any, ugly goals before Tuesday’s matchup with the Canadiens in Montreal. Head coach Rick Tocchet has been urging his players to get to the hard ice, create traffic, and put sticks in front of the net.

If you get bodies in front of the net, good things will happen. After Sunday’s game against the Flames, it felt like that would never happen. The Flyers seemed too interested in scoring the pretty goals, or the “tic-tac-toe” goals.

A defeated Tocchet talked about his team’s “lack of will” after Sunday’s loss to the Flames, and said all he could do was keep pushing his message.

Well, after Tuesday’s game, it seems his message has taken hold.

The Flyers opened the game with a tip-in, a power-play goal through traffic, and another power-play goal scored by collecting a rebound.

First, Bobby Brink, who was cutting across the middle of the ice, tipped in the Travis Sanheim shot to take an early 1-0 lead. His score was followed by Cam York, who buried a one-timer while the Flyers had a 5-on-3 advantage. York fired the puck through traffic to beat the Hab’s goaltender. Then, it was Brink again who was crowding the net and was there to flip in the second-chance effort.

However, it was not just scoring on hard ice that was different on Tuesday.

The team crushed their season high, racking up 42 shots on goal Tuesday night. While they only scored four, plus the shootout goal, it could have been much worse if Montreal netminder Sam Montembeault had not had a stellar night between the posts.

The Flyers learned that good things happen when you put pucks on net with bodies in front. Tocchet’s message clearly landed on Tuesday. Now, we wait to see if it sticks.

Read More: Flyers Start Hot, Cool Off, & Bounce Back in Shootout Win vs. Canadiens

Flyers’ Defense Struggles in the Second

Defensively speaking, the Flyers had an uncharacteristic game.

It has been the defense and goaltending that have kept the Flyers in position for most of their wins this season. The defense had a great showing in the first period, holding the Canadiens to just two shots. Even in the third period and overtime/shootout, the Flyers’ defense and goaltending did a great job holding Montreal’s attack at bay.

However, the second period was nothing to write home about. In fact, it was 20 minutes that I am sure they will want to forget. Montreal scored four goals on nine shots. Two goals came from some iffy penalty calls. However, the Flyers’ penalty kill has been excellent all season. Two power-play goals in one period felt unheard of this season.

On Kirby Dach’s first goal, as well as Suzuki’s tally, Dan Vladar just seemed out of position. Dach’s second goal, as well as Demidov’s score, Vladar just got beat. Nonetheless, he got zero help from the Flyers defensively.

The Flyers’ offense had a night to remember, but this may be one the defense wants to forget.

Read More: Flyers Locker Room: Tocchet Laments Net-Front Presence