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Quick Hits: Shift Times, Superlatives, Laughton, SWE vs. CZE

April 7, 2020, 10:11 AM ET [25 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Quick Hits: April 7, 2020

1) A tried-and-true hockey equation: Shorter shifts + more frequent line rolling + increased puck possession = Less time spent hemmed in your own zone and a fresher team in the third period.

The bottom line: The Flyers scored 87 third period goals (3rd most in NHL) and allowed just 61 GA (5th fewest) in the 69 games they played before the NHL schedule pause.

Taking a look at the underlying team numbers, the average shift time last season per Flyers forward was roughly 44 seconds. This season, it's 41 seconds. That may not sound like much of it difference but it really adds up over the course of the season. Spread out across full games, it means more ability to roll lines.

Last season, the Flyers forward corps averaged 18.2 shifts per game (led by Sean Couturier's 26.8 with 8 averaging 20+). This year, 10 have averaged 20+ shifts and 13 players have averaged 19+ minutes. In 2018-19, the Flyers had 8 forwards average 14+ minutes TOI. This season, 10 different Flyers forwards have averaged at least 14 minutes of ice time.

Additionally, last year, the Flyers had seven forwards on the individual plus side of the unblocked shot attempts (Fenwick) measure of puck possession at 5-on-5. This year, it's nine with two others at 49-plus percent.

These improvements are a product of the team's improved depth up front as well as head coach Alain Vigneault's commitment to spreading the wealth.

2) Flyers left wing/center Scott Laughton is the next up in the local media conference call series during the pandemic. He will speak on Tuesday afternoon. An article will follow the next day on the Flyers' official site. The Carter Hart player profile will run on Tuesday afternoon.

3) As a change of pace from coverage of how members of the hockey community are coping during the coronavirus pandemic, the Flyers asked me to come up with Superlative Awards for the 2019-20 season. Readers are encouraged to suggest some of their own superlative awards and winners.

4) April 7 in memoriam: Nine years ago today, two-stint Flyers assistant coach and subsequent vice president of NHL Central Scouting E.J. McGuire passed away today at age 58 after losing a battle with cancer.

"Edge" is greatly missed to this day: an astute hockey man and an even better human being; one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.

A bright and articulate man who obtained a Ph.D. in kinesiology (with a sports psychology specialization), McGuire was best known in Philadelphia for his stint as one of Mike Keenan's assistant coaches. He joked that his main job under Keenan was to "clean the blood off the walls" after Keenan's infamous -- and often premeditated -- locker room meltdowns. Keenan often turned to McGuire to serve as the good cop after a tirade by the head coach, offering chastised players encouragement to build them back up again.

McGuire also worked as Keenan's assistant in Rochester and with the Chicago Blackhawks, as well as serving as an Ottawa Senators assistant coach and a scout before heading the NHL's Central Scouting bureau.

Away from the NHL, he put his doctorate to use by writing several professional journal articles and book chapters in his field of expertise. He was a frequent presenter at various academic symposia. McGuire also conducted hockey coaching clinics across North America.

Back when Brad Marsh was blogging for HockeyBuzz, he wrote a blog entitled "Seventh Heaven and the E.J. McGuire Principle" , looking at how McGuire studied video of championship games in a variety of different sports and found commonalities he could apply to coaching. According to Marsh, McGuire was uncanny when it came to predicting the winning team before a championship was played. It's an interesting read.

5) Flyers Alum left winger Scott Hartnell found a fun way to combine reduction of Covid-19 risk with showing support for the Flyers:


6) Today in Flyers History: April 7, 1974

In the final game of the 1973-74 regular season, the Flyers earn a 6-2 win at the Spectrum over the Minnesota North Stars. Bernie Parent earns his 47th victory of the season as he stops 20 of 22 shots. Bill Barber notches a hat trick (32nd, 33rd and 34th goals of the season), while Bobby Clarke racks up three assists to finish the season with 52 helpers. The Flyers also get goals from "Cowboy" Bill Flett (17th), Tom Bladon (12th) and Ross Lonsberry (32nd).

7) April 7 Flyers Alumni birthday: Don Biggs (1965), Matt Walker (1980).

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Flyers Fantasy Tournament: Day 3

In yesterday's Flyers Team Saskatchewan vs. Flyers Team Alberta round robin game from Group A, Saskatchewan narrowly outpolled their Alberta counterparts in the reader vote (53 percent to 47 percent). An EA Sports simulation version saw Alberta win, 3-2, behind a 42-save performance by Carter Hart. However, it's the reader vote that counts here, so Saskatchewan is 1-0 and Alberta is 0-1.

Today's round-robin game, from Group B, also promises to be a close vote.

TEAM SWEDEN VS. TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC

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Team Sweden roster

LW: Pelle Eklund -- 1989-90 season (70 GP, 23 G, 39 A, 62 PTS, 16 PIM)
C: Peter Forsberg -- 2005-06 season (60 GP, 19 G, 56 A, 75 PTS, 46 PIM)
RW: Mikael Renberg -- 1994-95 season (47 GP, 26 G, 31 A, 57 PTS, 20 PIM)
D: Kim Johnsson -- 2003-04 season (80 GP, 13 G, 29 A, 42 PTS, 26 PIM)
D: Kjell Samuelsson -- 1987-88 season (74 GP, 6 G, 24 A, 30 PTS, 184 PIM)
G: Pelle Lindbergh -- 1984-85 season (Vezina winner, Hart Trophy finalist)
Coach: Ulf Samuelsson

Team Czech Republic Roster

LW: Jakub Voracek -- 2014-15 season (82 GP, 22 G, 59 A, 81 PTS, 78 PIM)
C: Vaclav Prospal -- 1996-97 season (23 GP,  6 G, 13 A, 19 PTS,  8 PIM)
RW: Jaromir Jagr -- 2011-12 season (73 GP, 19 G, 35 A, 54 PTS, 30 PIM)
D: Petr Svoboda --  1995-96 season (73 GP, 1 G, 28 A, 29 PTS, 105 PIM)
D: Miroslav Dvorak -- 1982-83 season (80 GP, 4 G, 33 A, 37 PTS, 20 PIM)
G: Roman Cechmanek -- 2000-01 season (Vezina finalist)
Coach: Milos Holan
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