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Thursday’s game was neither entertaining nor satisfying. Moreover, the Flyers lost to the Jets, 5-2. It was a low-energy, low-event contest for both sides. Neither club generated much, and neither gave up much.
Overall, to be blunt, it was a pretty boring game. The Flyers paid for a couple of fatal miscues. However, the match was not entirely without a few positives fpAftr Rick Tocchet’s team. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the game.
The good
- Better discipline. After taking a combined 15 penalties in the first three games, the Flyers only took one minor against the Jets. That’s progress. Unfortunately, the Jets’ potent power play turned into their fourth goal of the game.
- Decent game for Tippett. Even apart from scoring the Flyers’ first goal of the game, Owen Tippett stood out positively. He was one of the few Flyers to have jump in his skates in this game.
- York returned. It didn’t make much difference on Thursday. However, the Flyers missed Cam York while he won Injured Reserve for the first three games of the season.
- Second period. The second period, from a process standpoint, was the Flyers best of the game Unfortunately, they exited with a two-goal deficit after entering the frame trailing just 1-0.
- Perimeter containment. The Jets are a potent offensive team. The Flyers held them to 14 shots for the game. Most came from the outside. Combine that with taking just one minor and it’s a start of a winning scenario on many nights. Not on this one, however.
The bad
- Second Winnipeg goal. There was nothing Samuel Ersson could do to prevent the first or their Winnipeg goals. The third one in particular was sheer bad puck luck. It bounded off Adam Ginning’s skate, pinballed off Noah Cates’ backside and then into the net. However, the second Winnipeg goal was one Ersson needed to stop: clear sighted, low to the glove side.
- Turnovers. Miscues by Jett Luchanko and Nikita Grebenkin figured directly into two of Winnipeg’s goals. Luchanko also passed up at least one open shot possibility (Tocchet has implored him to shoot more often). He did have a nice outlet pass that started one of Philly’s better scoring chances of the game.
- Power play.
- First period. FIrst period shots were 5-3 in Winnipeg’s favor. That was largely because the Jets were just as flat as Philly. But this was not an airtight period save the opening Winnipeg goal. It was just bad hockey.
The Ugly
- Antithesis of Monday. The home opener against Florida on Monday was an entertaining game. Thursday was the exact opposite. For example, it took nine-plus minutes in the third period for either team to register a shot on net. There’s something to be said for structure and patience. That was part of it. But, on the whole, it was just boring and lacking emotion or energy.
- Bad passing. On both teams, there was a lot of errant passing and lack of forechecking when actually set up to apply pressure.
Flyers Daily: Some great news
Jason Myrtetus recaps his own observations from Thursday’s game. However, there was something much more important to discuss. Jason’s scans came back clean. He is now cancer free!
Side note: Best wishes go out to Haley Taylor Simon. She is dealing with her own very tough personal situation right now. She intends to return soon. Take all the time you need, Haley.
