The Flyers’ early-season problem isn’t just the scoreboard. It’s everything that’s happening before the scoreboard even matters.
Through three games, Philadelphia has been getting buried in shots, owning a minus-60 shot differential while allowing 122 and producing just 62 in a 0-1-2 start. But Rick Tocchet said Sunday that the bigger issue is the foundation underneath all of it. The Flyers aren’t making enough of the simple, necessary plays that lead to possession, and without that, they’re stuck defending too much.
“I know everybody wants shots, everybody wants us to score and all that, but we've got to go through the ABCs to do that,” Tocchet said after practice in Voorhees, N.J. “We had an opportunity to hit the middle at least six times last night with speed and we're shoveling it up the boards.
I don't know if it's the summer or nervousness, the hype. I do feel some guys are a little bit nervous out there because there are reads to be made, but we're just kind of taking the safe one and just throwing it down.”
That came a day after the Flyers dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Hurricanes at Xfinity Mobile Arena, their second straight overtime loss following the season-opening 7-0 loss to the Penguins on home ice. They’ll try again Monday when they open a three-game road trip against the Lightning.
“I think we're working harder, we're competing better,” Sean Couturier said. “I think we still have a lot of work to do, we're giving up a lot of shots.
I think structurally we're not crisp, we're not sharp. But I think the effort is there.
Now it's about working smart and making sure we're in the right place on the ice.”
That last part is the issue Tocchet keeps circling back to. Last season, shot prevention was one of the Flyers’ calling cards during their playoff push. They finished with the NHL’s fourth-fewest shots against per game at 25.5 and were among the league’s stingiest teams over the stretch run.
This season has been the opposite so far. Philadelphia is allowing 40.7 shots per game.
“It’s still early in the year, small sample, but it’s still alarming a little bit I would say,” Couturier said. “I think structure-wise, we're not as sharp, we don't seem to be on the same page.
At least the effort is better and we're competing more, but we've just got to smarten up, work harder, but smart, as well. And I think we'll eventually get back to the playing style we want to play.”
Tocchet said he’s seeing the same thing, and he pointed to details like penalties at the wrong time and sloppy line changes as part of the problem.
“It’s something that you can get better at, but hockey IQ is everything in today's game,” Tocchet said. “Just knowing the game, the situation.
I think our game management is subpar. The proof's in the pudding.
Knowing when it's the right time to do certain things.”
In Other News...
Flyers' Winless Start Just Got More Concerning After Overtime Loss
The Flyers early-season frustration deepened in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Hurricanes, a result that left them still searching for their first win after three straight defeats. Philadelphia got goals from Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov and had enough push to at least extend the night, but Carolina had the last word in a game that kept the Flyers from building any momentum.
There was more concern beyond the standings, too, with Rasmus Ristolainen a possible injury question after taking a shot to his left hand and briefly returning before being sent for reevaluation Sunday. Goaltender Joseph Woll stopped 37 shots, which gave Philadelphia a chance to hang around, but the Flyers will now have to sort through both the record and the roster as the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Gostisbehere Broke Flyers Hearts Again In A Game Carolina Nearly Lost
Shayne Gostisbehere has a way of making life difficult for the Flyers, and he did it again in a game Carolina nearly let slip away. His overtime winner delivered the Hurricanes a win in Philadelphia and marked the third time he has beaten the Flyers in overtime, a familiar ending for a player whose name still carries extra weight in this matchup.
For the Flyers, the night added another layer to an early-season offensive struggle, with chances hard to come by and the margin for error shrinking as the game wore on. The bigger concern may have come on the back end, where Rasmus Ristolainen exited after blocking a late second-period shot and never returned, leaving Philadelphia to absorb another tough result while Joseph Wolls 37 saves helped Carolina escape with its third win of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Have Another Early Problem Fans Really Didn't Need
The Flyers trip through the young season already has a familiar feel to it, and not in a good way. They fell 3-2 to the Hurricanes in overtime after spotting Carolina a goal in the first 10 seconds, then spent the rest of the night trying to claw back into a game that never quite settled into their favor.
There was more bad news beyond the final score, too, as Rasmus Ristolainen left with a right hand injury, leaving Philadelphia to wonder about its defensive depth heading into the next game. Add in a power play that still has not found the net this season, and the Flyers are suddenly dealing with more than just one frustrating loss. [Read more 🡒]