Quick Hits: October 7, 2022
1. The first single-group practice day of training camp was held on Thursday. The session included systems work including the breakout (sans forecheckers), tracking and defensive zone coverages. In between reps in the coverage drill, which features lines alternating between offensive and defensive roles, head coach John Tortorella barked out corrections as he spotted issues.
Thursday's session also featured a small-ice drill in which players had to make plays in tight quarters and, depending on which side had puck possession, either attack the "opposing" net or support their goaltender by taking away space.
The goalies, including Carter Hart, were under siege during the early part of practice, seeing one wave of attack after another. Hart, joining the healthy players on the ice for his first full practice since the second on-ice day of camp, was exhausted. Toward the end of that segment of practice, he barely moved. After getting a respite and rehydrating, he completed the practice.
Near the end of the practice session, the players did a scaled-down conditioning skate before stretches. Afterwards, Tortorella met with the media. He discussed why he employs very straightforward and easy-to-grasp systems.
The coach said that most current-day players (not just Flyers players but players throughout the sport) "have the attention span of an amoeba" if a coach tries to direct them across the entire 200-foot ice surface. Thus, according to Tortorella, it gets better results for the head coach to keep things fairly simple and to give players freedom to create as long as they adhere to the non-negotiables. The Flyers head coach said that he and staff will spend much of the remainder of camp "spoon-feeding" information to the players. This also incorporates elements of video teaching and other visual cues.
On Friday, the team will hold an 11 a.m. practice before an off-day on Saturday.
Coming off a breakthrough 1994-95 season that saw the birth of the Legion of Doom and a run to within two wins of the Stanley Cup Final, expectations were high for the reigning Atlantic Division champion Philadelphia Flyers heading into the 1995-96 season.
An almost dreamlike opening night performance fueled the excitement even higher, as the Flyers routed the Montreal Canadiens, 7-1, in the final opener played at the storied Montreal Forum. The Flyers could not have scripted it any better.
All three members of the Legion of Doom (Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg) scored a goal. So did all three members of the opening-night second line (Rod Brind'Amour, Patrik Juhlin and Brent Fedyk). Even the fourth line got in the act with Rob DiMaio scoring a goal assisted by Gilbert Dionne and Shawn Antoski.
To top it off, Lindros handily won a fight with Montreal's Stephane Quintal and, during the first period, welcomed highly touted Montreal rookie Saku Koivu to the NHL with a heavy body check.
Ron Hextall stopped 30 of 31 shots, while Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy was chased after Brind'Amour made it a 5-0 game at just 2:12 of the second period. Mark Recchi notched the lone Montreal tally.
4. Oct. 7 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Ross Fitzpatrick (1960), Andre Faust (1969).