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Another game against a bottom tier defensive team. OTT, MIN, NYI did good jobs stifling the Flyers offense the entire game and NSH did it for half the game. We’ll see how the Flyers come out tonight, but I’d like to see them grab a lead in the first and hold it to the end.
Coaching_101
That’s a huge part of it. I literally heard Boucher say Tocchet actually game plans against specific opponents, which Torts didn’t do. That’s hilariously insane, not to mention they have an actual D-zone system now. That’s not all of it though. They’re right at the top of the league in GAA and save pct. The goalies, especially Vladar, have been stopping pucks. Zegras has been extraordinary, performing well beyond expectations. The players still have to go out and make plays.
Ten games in last year, the Flyers were 3-6-1. This year, they’re 6-3-1. The turnaround has been remarkable.
A fun game to watch and the most satisfying 2 points of the season so far. Drysdale has made a truly shocking upgrade to his game.
You didn’t address that analytics show that , yes, Zegras historically has been bad defensively at even strength. Nobody was confused about Dvorak not being a defensemen. Just like nobody is confused about Zegras, who is listed as a winger in the lineup, not being a center on this team.
Historically? Only someone who’s still pathologically obsessed with Torts would care about “historically.” How is he playing THIS year?
It’s not a myth and never was a myth. Has he improved? Probably, but he’s also not playing center, which has increased responsibilities, this year.
Zegras isn’t taking faceoffs because that is the weakest part of his game and Dvorak is really good at them. First forward back into the D-zone takes on the +1 role in the Box +1. Sometimes it’s Zegras and sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes there’s switching if a Dman jumps in deep in the Ozone and a forward has to turn around and cover for him. If that’s Dvorak, that doesn’t make him a defenseman. The NHL isn’t rod hockey.
So I guess the plan is now for Luchanko to be scratched enough games consecutively to qualify for a conditioning assignment in the AHL. Would really like to see Foerster with either Michkov and/or Zegras some time this year. I think we are going to find out Foerster’s success is not necessarily being tied to just having Cates and Brink with him.
I think it’s more a case of Cates’ and Brink’s success being tied to Foerster. The kid is really good both ways, has good size and I don’t think there’s a Flyer with better hands.
An oddly big game early. Islanders turned things around nicely, winning everything since their 0-3 start. They’re scoring more and giving up more than the Flyers. Minnesota and Ottawa decided to suddenly D up in their games against the Flyers after struggling defensively. Flyers have been up and down in their scoring and end game results. The total team defense turnaround has been a lot more consistent and remarkable. After 7 games last year, Flyers had given up 31. This year it’s only 18. The intermittent scoring is curious. They need to start popping more than one or two a game.
If you have an opinion that Zegras cannot play center then certainly I can understand the lack of debate. I do remember when Cates was transitioned to center it took some time for his faceoff % to improve. The center depth is not great, a lot redundancy. Outside of Couts right now, I do not see a lot of passing creativity from the center position. Considering the organization is loaded with wingers who are more scorers as opposed to playmakers seems like a long-term issue. I do have hope Luchanko can develop into a play making center. Guelph is 1 point from the basement in their division, and the current HC is more concerned about winning every game with a team that is not a serious contender and will rely on vets shorting his bench to accomplish his goals.
The litmus test for me is when the trade deadline rolls around. Do they trade Dvorak or keep him? Pretty obvious Tocchet values his contributions to the team. Interesting fact, only 1 center currently on the roster playing center regularly has scored 40 points or more in a season (Couts). Vladar is playing as a top tier goaltender right now, and the team is at hockey .500. Granted, very early in the season and not an easy schedule so far. 7 games in and only 2 other teams have scored less goals on the season. Again, small sample size, curious to see how it plays out.
Zegras can handle any centering duties right now save winning draws, which is a big deal. If he was around 50/50 like Cates, it wouldn’t be a conversation. I would say the center depth is fine when everybody’s healthy. Zegras is a huge upgrade over Frost who he essentially replaced, especially defensively. I think it’s a safe bet he’ll get to his 60+ point level from his first two seasons. Cates will top his .5 PPG season last year and Couturier will have his best year since roughly 2020. If the Flyers are in contention for a playoff spot, I think they’d keep Dvorak. It’s a way off. Same thing with Luchanko except a decision has to be made sooner. He has some strengths to his game, he plays both ways and that speed, but he still has holes, especially not shooting.
So is the plan to ramp up Zegras to play more at center as the season progresses, or continue to limit his usage at center and transition him back to wing. I’ll be curious to find out. Would not mind breaking up the Cates line, which I know seems impossible. I think Foerster can play with more skilled guys who might not have the defensive prowess and even be a better goal scorer.
The top 4 and Vladar are getting the job done right now. Full credit to those guys. PP is still killing this team and right now it looks like another coaching staff has no answers.
The center talk with Zegras is nonsense. It’s not rod hockey. Zegras is still too bad at faceoffs to take them regularly. That’s why Dvorak does it. First forward back takes the +1 spot in the box +1. Sometimes it’s Zegras, sometimes it isn’t. Zegras has been fine in his own end. The D has cut almost two goals a game off what they were giving up last year. Seven games in: 31 last year, 18 this year. They’ve still scored 3 more goals this year than last despite the disappointment there. They’re getting shut down too much offensively.
Ottawa’s PK and goaltending have been bad so far. They still have weapons and can still score even with Tkachuk out. Flyers have played well the last two games. Worst scenario: Could be a trap game. Best scenario: Power play continues to get results and pops a couple, Zegras gets Michkov going (although MM has two pts in his last 3 games which isn’t awful), and the D system and Vladar contains Ottawa’s offense.
Flyers players seem to grasp their responsibilities in the box + 1 zone coverage system Tocchet favors.
Having watched more FLA games since April than Flyers games, I can tell you they’re generally playing the system pretty well. Not as good as Finals Florida, but pretty well. The system sort of builds in good puck support as a feature, something that was sorely lacking a lot last year. This year, I only saw it really fall apart against WPG in the 2nd period. They were a bad team with some good players last year. This year, they still have good players and they’re rounding into a good team.
i don’t see much diff in their play compared to torts. with the exception of the focus not being on blocking shots. as well as better goaltending.
whats with “taco”?
Puck support is generally much better in their own end. That’s the difference between Torts’ antiquated madness and Taco’s Box +1 system. They’re also scoring a bit more and I think there’s more of that on the way.
I think it’s funny. Hockey is entertainment.
I still maintain, the absence of Tortorella has a lot to do with the uptick in the players GAF, and you’re seeing that in their play.
Whatever works. Taco deserves some credit. They look like a cohesive team most of the time. The extended in game stretches where they strung multiple bad shifts together have been few.
