Quick Hits: Aug. 16, 2021
1) Broad Street Hockey's Steph Driver posted an in-depth interview with Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher, covering an array of topics. Subjects range from the Flyers connection with the community, the workings of Flyers management with Comcast-Spectacor ownership, the non-hockey aspects of being a general manager, the team's offseason to date (particularly the Rasmus Ristolainen acquisition and Martin Jones signing) and prospects of contender status, Philadelphia as a destination of choice for free agents, the importance of having several young players take a forward step in 2021-22, player movement around the league and much more. The interview is well worth the listen: click here.
2) Today in Flyers History: Aug. 16, 2020
One year ago today, the Flyers the Flyers took a two games to one lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't easy but the skated off with a 1-0 win in Game 3.
The Flyers struggled mightily on the power play (0-for-6). It took a generally strong checking, hard-hitting (36-23 edge), shot-blocking (24, including a half-dozen by Matt Niskanen), grind-it-out and strong penalty killing night (3-for-3) to make a 1-0 lead hold up for 54-plus minutes.
There were some breakdowns and turnovers along the way. Luckily for the Flyers, although Carter Hart wasn't tested much in quantity of shots, he stepped up huge on some prime Montreal scoring chances to record a 23-save shutout.
Most notably, Hart erased two horrific giveaways by Scott Laughton, a shorthanded 2-on-1 and a late-game one-on-one chance (developing into a 2-on-0) when Jesperi Kotkaniemi broke through the Flyers' defense. In so doing, Hart became the youngest goaltender in Flyers history to record a playoff shutout.
A deflection goal early in the first period by Jakub Voracek (2nd goal of the playoffs and in the series) was the extent of the scoring for either team. On what looked like a set play off the faceoff, Voracek got himself to the net. Giroux threw the puck hard at the net from the left side and Voracek got a piece of it for a deflection goal at 5:21. Robert Hà¤gg got the secondary assist.
Getting traffic at the net contributed to the Flyers first scoring chance and, shortly, thereafter, created their first goal. Later, a four-minute power play by the Flyers accomplished very little but Travis Konecny drew iron on a shot through traffic and Voracek made a nice power move to the net in the latter part of the power play. A subsequent power play produced better possession and puck movement but no goal.
Hart made the game's first tough save, denying Brett Kulak joining the rush. Later, Kotkaniemi and Kulak hit the post with the same shift. Later, the Kotaniemi line hemmed in the Thompson line. Overall, though, the Flyers played much better defense in the opening period than they did in any period of Game 2. Shots were 8-5 Flyers. Philly won 14 of 22 faceofs (Thompson led at 4-for-5). Hits were 14-11 in the Flyers' favor.
The second period was a physical, grinding frame with both teams generally playing solid defense. The Flyers' penalty kill stepped up in this stanza while the power play continued to struggle. Two uncharacteristic terrible giveaways by Scott Laughton -- one to Brendan Gallager in the slot after a backhanded flip from behind the net, the second to Jonathan Drouin right over the middle in the defensive zone -- were erased by Hart.
The Flyers emphasized getting traffic to the net, but generated too few actual shots. Nic Aube-Kubel paid the price on a late period shot block, but it was a timely one. Shots in the second period were 8-6 in the Canadiens' favor. Hits were 13-2 in the Flyers favor (27-13 overall) The Flyers won 11 of 20 faceoffs (Claude Giroux was 7-for-10 through two periods).
The Canadiens kept on taking stick penalties in the third period, and the Flyers continued to scuffle to generate any pressure. At least it killed clock. Hart came up with some big saves when he had, including one on a shorthanded counterattack by Lehkonen.
Unlike the third period of Game 1, where the Flyers had a notable territorial edge, too much of the early portion of this period was spent in the Flyers' zone. Philly bent early but didn't break.
After a couple of icings by the Flyers (one by Tyler Pitlick and one by Michael Raffl), Hart denied Kotkaniemi point blank after he broke through the Flyers defense. Philly was able to hold on. Third period shots were 10-6 Montreal; hardly the sort of emphatic closeout the Flyers enjoyed in Game 1 but good enough on this night.
3) On the Monday edition of the Flyers Daily podcast on the Flyers Daily Podcast, Jason Myrtetus speaks with veteran television broadcaster and former NHL coach and player Barry Melrose. They discuss the National Hockey League's return to ESPN, the experience of coaching Wayne Gretzky with the LA Kings, hockey today versus the "old days", and some of his favorite stories. To listen, click here.
4) Danny Briere is the special quest of Zac Kindrachuk on the My Dad Used to Play to Hockey podcast. Briere talks about his career goals moving forward, what he misses about playing in the NHL and much more: click here.
5) On the Flyers official website, the off-season inventory series wraps up with a look at the team's new additions and their projected roles for 2021-22: Cam Atkinson, Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, Keith Yandle, Martin Jones and Nate Thompson. Tomorrow, we will run the annual prospect directory article, looking at where players are in the system project to play in 2021-22.