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Tocchet: Flyers looked tired
The Washington Capitals were excited to play in Hershey on Thursday. From head coach Spencer Carbery through a host of Hershey Bears alumni on the game roster, many Caps looked forward all summer to the game at a packed Giant Center.
Conversely, to the Flyers, it was just a mid-preseason game on the schedule. The Flyers skated in Voorhees and then bussed for three hours to Hershey. The team took along just six NHL roster veterans for the trip. That total includes veteran fourth-line enforcer Nicolas Deslauriers and goaltender Dan Vladar (who played in the first period).
Two nights earlier, the Flyers held a short morning skate at the FTC in Voorhees. The game roster departed for the airport shortly thereafter for a flight to Montreal. After clearing customs, the team went directly to Bell Centre to get ready to play.
Head coach Rick Tocchet said after the game that his team looked tired. He couldn’t fairly single out individual performances because the team collectively looked awful. Consequently, there is no practice on Friday. Tocchet decided instead to keep everyone off the ice. The team hosts the Boston Bruins at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday (5 p.m. EDT).
Few positives from Thursday’s performance
The results were predictable. The Flyers got thumped in both games. At least the Montreal game was competitive in its middle stages (after an awful first period). In Hershey, the Flyers never mounted a significant challenge.
Virtually no one had a good game in Hershey, with the possible exception of the fourth line. None of the defensemen competing for third-pair or depth NHL roster spots took a forward step. Aleksei Kolosov, who has played 100 minutes in net over the three preseason games, got picked apart in goal.
Travis Konecny, Cam York and Vladar dressed for the first time in the preseason. Vladar did OK in his one period but spotted the Caps a power play goal from the top of the circle. York saw all-situation usage but had a meh game. However, he said he felt fine physically as the same progressed. Konecny needs intensity to be effective and looked instead like he left his skating legs on the bus. The game was also a heavy-legged slog for Owen Tippett.
Alex Bump and Jett Luchanko both played in the Tuesday and Thursday games . Bump had a very strong third period in Montreal but had nothing going in Hershey. He seems to be pressing because he has get to score a goal in camp (Rookie Series, scrimmage or NHL exhibition). Meanwhile, Luchanko looked out of sync timing wise on Tuesday but skated well. On Thursday, he too had no juice in his legs.
The Flyers went 0-for-4 on the power play, including a lengthy 5-on-3 that went by the wayside. The penalty kill was 1-for-2.
Tuomaala among 10 roster cuts
The Flyers made 10 cuts on Thursday from their training camp roster. None were a surprise. However, there was one notable cut in the mix. Philly assigned Samu Tuomaala to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms camp.
Tuomaala is in the third and final season of his NHL entry-level contract. He entered NHL camp last year with an outside shot at winning an NHL opening-night roster spot after making the AHL All-Star Game as a rookie in 2023-24. Moreover, the Finn stood a better chance at receiving his first NHL recall at some point during the 2024-25 campaign.
Neither outcome came to fruition. Between injuries, offensive stagnation and regression in his off-puck game, Tuomaala had a disappointing season. Entering NHL camp this year, Tuomaala needed a strong September to make up lost ground on the depth chart. That didn’t happen either.
Tuomaala played on the top line in the first game of the Rookie Series. Within the second game, coach John Snowden pulled him off the top line and skipped him on several shift rotations. A failed backcheck on a Rangers’ goal stood out negatively. Subsequently, Tuomaala’s speed and shot did not come to the forefront in NHL camp. On Thursday, they Flyers sent him back to the Phantoms. He lasted longer in camp a year ago.
Tuomaala has a lot of work to do in Allentown. Right now, he has dim hopes of an NHL debut anytime soon. Thursday’s roster cut list made that crystal clear.
Rizzo, Robertson and Eklind
In addition to Tuomaala, the Flyers made two other roster cuts among their NHL contracted players on entry-level deals: Tucker Robertson and Massimo Rizzo. The club also placed Oscar Eklind on waivers for purposes of AHL assignment. He will clear on Friday afternoon and join the rest of the players going to the Phantoms.
Six AHL contract players cut from NHL camp
Officially, veteran players on AHL (or AHL/ECHL) contracts need to sign tryout deals to attend NHL camps. The Flyers turned the following AHL contracted Phantoms/Royals players loose from their camp tryouts for purposes of joining Lehigh Valley: Zayde Wisdom, Phantoms captain Garrett Wilson, Cooper Marody, Sawyer Boulton and Reading goaltenders Yaniv Perets and Keith Petruzzelli.
Snow the Goalie: Mid-Preseason Edition
The STG crew — Anthony SanFilippo, Russ Joy and Chris Therien — talk about the Flyers’ training camp roster and the three preseason games to date. Meanwhile, there is also a special memorial tribute to Bernie Parent.
South Jersey Hockey Game-Worn Expo
The fourth annual South Jersey Game Worn Expo is tomorrow. The event is on Saturday, September 27, at the RiverWinds Community Center in West Deptford (10 a.m. EDT to 4 p.m. EDT). Admission is free. The event features 48 tables of game-worn hockey jerseys, memorabilia and collectibles from collectors and sellers.
The expo benefits the Flyers Warriors disabled veterans hockey program. Additionally, Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Howe will be on hand for the event. Check out the event’s Instagram page.
Flyers Daily: Konecny, power play, etc.
Flyers Daily host Jason Myretetus gives his take on Thursday’s preseason loss in Hershey. The episode also features a one-on-one conversation with Travis Konecny, a discussion of Sean Couturier’s comments on the power play during the John Tortorella regime, and more. The Friday edition runs 21-plus minutes.
