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Rick Tocchet’s Philadelphia Flyers (31-23-12) held a brief optional practice on Sunday at the FTC in Voorhees. Saturday’s 2-1 (1-0) shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets — a team Philly is chasing in the standings — did grave damage to the Flyers’ already slim playoff hopes.
Participating skaters: Emil Andrae, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, Carl Grundstrom, Garnet Hathaway, Noah Juulsen, Matvei Michkov, and Garrett Wilson. Goaltender Samuel Ersson also participated. On Monday, the team departs for its three-game West Coast trip to Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose.
The team will practice in Anaheim on Tuesday. The Flyers play the Ducks on Wednesday night, the Kings on Thursday night and the Sharks on Saturday afternoon.
Quick Hits: Phantoms, Prospects
- John Snowden’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms (26-27-6) very narrowly cling to a playoff spot in the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division. The team needs to finish in a top six spot in the Atlantic Division to qualify for the best-of-three first round series. The Phantoms sit in fifth place but only hold a two-point lead over the Springfield Thunderbirds and Bridgeport Islanders.
- Lehigh Valley’s Phil Tomasino (10th goal of the season) scored the lone goal for his team in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the PPL Center in Allentown. The teams split their home-and-home series over the weekend. The visiting team won each of the two games. Lehigh Valley gained a 4-3 overtime win in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. David Jiricek notched three assists.
- Flyers 2025 draftees Porter Marton and Shane Vansaghi scored a goal apiece in Saturday’s major upset 3-2 overtime loss to Ohio State on Saturday. The defeat spoiled the Spartans’ hopes for a third straight conference title. Despite the loss, Michigan State is still likely to earn a berth in the NCAA Frozen Four tournament.
Flyers Daily: Mondays with Meltzer
Jason and I analyze the Flyers’ recent three-game stretch, focusing on crucial errors and missed opportunities. Specifically, we break down the team’s ongoing power play struggles. The discussion also covers upcoming California road games and potential strategies for roster improvement this summer.
