Philadelphia Flyers
Rick Tocchet Addresses Flyers’ Fatal Flaw in Overtime Loss
The Philadelphia Flyers played a great game at five-on-five against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. Going up against a skilled but physical, well-structured team, the Flyers were faced with a tough challenge. Philadelphia hung in there and made it a tight game.
Per Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers had a slightly better Corsi than the Golden Knights, and only trailed Vegas in high-danger chances by two.
Statistics can tell you a lot. However, you could see how tight this game was just by watching.
The Flyers lost the game in overtime after a Travis Konecny fanned on a pass, giving the puck away, and leading to the Mark Stone game-winner. The defensive effort was not strong on the play either.
It’s easy to pin the loss on one play, but the fact of the matter is that the game should never have made it to overtime.
The Flyers had three power-play chances in the game, including one in the final five minutes. They failed to convert on all of their chances.
Philadelphia’s head coach, Rick Tocchet, addressed the power play after the game.
Read More: Flyers Drop Close Game After Costly Overtime Mistake
Tocchet addresses Flyers power-play struggles
“It’s disappointing. We had a good game. I don’t want to get negative. But the power play…” said the Flyers’ bench boss.
Tocchet pointed out some of what he saw go wrong on Thursday.
“We’re not getting middle shots. We have to get middle shots. Other than Trevor [Zegras], our flanks are having a tough time making a play. We’re not using the middle of the ice. “
In their three power-play attempts, the Flyers had just one shot with the man-advantage. After the first two attempts came up empty-handed, Tocchet changed things up, deploying a unit of Jamie Drysdale, Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, Bobby Brink, and Noah Cates for most of the third period opportunity. When asked why the mid-game change, Tocchet said, “Did you see the first two power plays? What would you have done?”
Among the changes, Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett did not see a power-play shift in the third period. With it being a tie game, that could have been so the team could put more responsible players, given the fact that the original unit gave up a lot of odd-man rushes.
That was not the reason Tocchet gave. “They [Tippett and Michkov] weren’t doing much,” said Tocchet. Hw would go on to say that it was not just those two in specific. “We can pick each guy. I can name 10 guys that weren’t doing anything.”
At the end of the day, the power play is a group effort. You can’t put the blame on just one person, but you also cannot expect one player to carry the whole unit. Tocchet said, “It’s not just one guy, it’s everybody. We have to keep grinding away… we have to fix it somehow.”
It’s hard to win games when the team plays worse with the man-advantage.
Read More: Ty Murchison’s Future: Can the Flyers Learn from a Similar Situation?
Another OT loss. Won 16, Lost 13. I’ll predict it now: they will miss the playoffs on a tiebreaker because they won’t have enough regulation wins. They are improved but not there yet. As noted, they had opportunities but couldn’t convert. Can’t beat Pittsburgh, can’t beat Colorado, can’t beat Dallas, can’t beat Vegas.
And Michkov remains a concern. What happened to the 60+ point rookie? I don’t want to hear conditioning anymore; that has to be back by now. This franchise continually takes skill players and screws them up with the antiquated “Flyers’ hockey” mentality. The only team that could turn Vinny Lecavalier into a fourth line grinder. Get him away from Couturier.
Vinny had nothing left. It was a bad signing. To be clear, if they are even in the playoff hunt it will be because of their shoot out wins. We all know what the tiebreakers are. Agree on Mike and hate the way they use him.
Vinny just one example. Yeah, he had injuries, but…
Patrick Sharp another example. Shayne Gohstisbehere. Even JVR…became a pretty much consistent 60-point scorer after being traded to Toronto.
Perhaps but …I have a feeling they might just squeak into the 8 playoff spot. And ..I think it will be Vladar is the reason. I think he’s been the X factor so far. But, it’ll be a one and done. We do….still have a long way to go but …I think Danny B and Jonesy are doing it the right way. No short cuts. And.. for God’s sake….No more talk about Quinn Huges. Defense is not our problem. A 1C…hell and a 2C is priority the way I see it.
Michkov….I think he’ll be fine but ..I think skating with Coots and Tippet is the problem and a mistake. I think he needs to be with another more dynamic player. Maybe Forester (when he’s back) or Catesy. Tippett…too streaky and Coots…. I suspect Toccs has him with Coots to keep Mich honest and not cheating so much on the Defensive zone Blue line. Mich still has to get the KHL poison outta his game and ..needs to work on skating. Legs always seem way to wide….spread out. But, I think he’ll be fine. He’s a sophomore in a tough as hell league. My concern….is the Philly Media and fan…don’t get in his head and ruin him because…that’s what really happens to our past elite players. One of the hardest markets to play in. The damn Philly media lol. How many Goalies have they eaten alive lol. Hope the kid stays off social media!!!
Maybe next year….with Porter and Jett…who I expect both to make the roster. Line mates change. Hell, I would like to see him skate with Dvorak. He plays both sides of the puck and could be that cheater safety role….Coots is trying to be.
Hell…if the bench and skaters would just listen to me when I’m yelling at the TV….We would win a lot more games. 😉
Let’s go Flyers!
NO more worries about Quinn Hughes… he went to the Wild. Thank the lord.
Seems to me that the team is not trying to win in OT, rather wanting to get to the shoot out where they know their chances are better. It’s very frustrating watching them skate around with the puck on 3-on-3 without taking a shot!
Only a Flyers player that would do something that dumb in overtime.
gotta be the only reason why 14 is out although he aint all that great defensively anymore. gotta get someone to take that deadweight off our hands
Coots is getting long in the tooth but dead weight? Veteran presence off the ice is something fans never see. Ask a coach or player what it means. You may be surprised. I would like to see Mich with Dvorak who…I think it been better than I expected and maybe Forester (when he’s back…argh) or Catsey. He needs to be with someone more dynamic that coots or even Tippett. I keep waiting for Tippett to take that next step. Gets so streaky and man…he makes some really just dumb or half A’ed passes at times. He could be a physical down low man like Timmy Kerr but, sense he just doesn’t have the heart. Then again…Kerr was just a force of nature. A monster. Loved that Flyer! Mich …needs someone match his skill game with at least one Fwd to keep him honest and get the KHL outta his game. It’s going to take time for him to become a NHL two way both sides of the puck player. That’s a skill that’s learned and playing in the K and Russia….makes it even harder for him. I’m hopeful. Especially next year when Porter and Jett are in the roster. Then need to lock up Ziggy too. He’s happy and productive. Makes all the difference in the world. Anaheim…who in the hell wants to play in Anaheim! NHL Siberia! 😉
I felt Toccs was trying to protect the one point and….That’s not Flyers Hockey. Not old school Flyers Hockey. He skated Ziggy, Catsey and BB the entire last PP. Two freaking mins! I was SCREAMING at the TV! 😉 I knew the game was blown at the end of the PP. Ziggy has got some great wheels but…needed them in the last min!!! Insane! As soon as Stone got on the ice in OT…text my son that it’s game over. 5 secs later TK wiffs and…yea. I’m about done with the 3 on 3 and shootout nonesense. Rather it go back to 5 on 5 for 5 and ties. Hell, could live with 4 on 4. It’s circus stuff. For TV because Bettman only cares about the almighty dolla dolla bills. Hate that man! When is there ever a 3 on 3 in a game? It’s summer pepper beer league crap. I suspect it’s why there’s so little parity in the league and why conferences are so right in standings. We tried it. Ain’t working. Go back to real hockey…the way God and Canadians intended. 🤔😉🤪
Then again…the game started as like 9 on 9! How did the get anything done in the early days lol. And ..goalies weren’t allowed to drop down. Crazy lol.
My biggest problem with Toccs…his biggest mistake… Was running Ziggy, Catesy and Brinks for the entire two mins of that Third PP. WTH was he thinking? Kill the legs of Ziggy and Catsey in the last five mins when..those are two I would want out in the last 45 secs of regulation. Told the second PP unit he has NO FAITH at all in them. Wheel out Coots, Mich and Tipp for at least 30 secs with instructions to get a whistle after 30 secs. Call a time out maybe ..and get first unit back out there. An entire PP!!! It’s like he was protecting just one point ..on a PP??? Not good enough. Have to go for the two points in your own damn barn. Sorry but…. Back to old school Flyers culture. One point…in this conference…ain’t good enough.
I loved Toccs as a player but ..have had doubts as a coach. Too a team that was one win away from conf finals and let Miller ..and a kid…. Destroy the room and the team. If that ain’t on the coach…who’s fault was it? Canucks are terrible now and Toccs…let it happen. Had my doubts when they hired him. Yotes were my #2 team… living in PHX Since 79 (born in South Jersey….still bleed orange and black!)
TK screwed up. Ok. It happens. But, like when I coached youth…I told them…you had three periods and lots of plays to win thos game. One play, one bad ref call…never decides a game. You decide it… EVERY PLAY. But ..sometimes your coach (me) screws up and it ain’t your fault. But…that rarely happens. 😉
Disappointing loss. Our boys battles and skated with a top tier play. Reminder that ..the rebuild continues.
Let’s go Flyers!!!
DB should pull a blockbuster trade.
Right after the New Year do it.
I can only assume Tocchet wanted to protect the point. They had some solid chances with Michkov on the first two power plays but couldn’t finish. The kid protects the puck well and creates chances, but he can’t finish for his teammates. They also don’t seem to look for him when he moves down low on the back post.
I’m beginning to hate how Tocchet is treating Michkov. It’s like watching a younger version of Tortorella.