Saturday’s game against the San Jose Sharks was a rollercoaster for the Flyers, especially for head coach Rick Tocchet, who found himself in a bit of a pickle with his center lineup. Sean Couturier was out, and Noah Cates was serving time in the penalty box.
This left Christian Dvorak, who clocked an exhausting 25:32, and Trevor Zegras as the only center options. But with Zegras just off the ice, Tocchet was running out of options.
Enter Owen Tippett, the winger ready to step up and fill the void.
Tocchet reminisced about the moment after Monday’s practice, sharing a memorable exchange from the bench. “With about nine or ten minutes left, Dvo was exhausted, Cates was in the box, and Trevor had just come off.
I needed a center, and Tippett jumped right in, saying, ‘I’ll play center!’ It was a great moment.
We laughed, and he went out there and did the job. It’s always special to see a player step up like that.”
Tippett took on the challenge with a smile, playing center on the fourth line alongside Garrett Wilson and Garnet Hathaway. Reflecting on the game, Tippett explained, “With our lineup changes, we knew some guys would have to adapt.
Andrae, a defenseman, was even playing center. It was all about communication and being ready to adjust.”
Tippett wasn’t just filling in at center; he also took on penalty-killing duties, a role he hadn’t played since his junior days in the OHL. “I always wanted to add penalty killing to my game,” Tippett said.
“It keeps me engaged and helps with the flow. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about positioning and the system.”
His willingness to step up wasn’t lost on Tocchet, who recognized Tippett’s potential from the start. “When I took the job, we talked about unlocking his potential. He’s a game-breaker, but he’s also shown he can dig in and deliver when it counts.”
Tippett’s physicality has also become a key part of his game. Known for delivering heavy hits, he’s managed to maintain discipline with only 28 penalty minutes this season. Tocchet praised his consistency and ability to drive lines, noting, “He’s been terrific all year, with very few lulls in his game.”
Despite injuries to key players like Tyson Foerster and goalie Dan Vladar, the Flyers have shown resilience. Tippett echoed Travis Konecny’s sentiment about chasing playoff spots, emphasizing the team’s adaptability.
“We’ve dealt with injuries all year. The schedule doesn’t allow much recovery time, so it’s about the next man up.
You have to be ready to step into roles you’re not used to.”
In a season full of challenges, Tippett’s versatility and determination have been a bright spot for the Flyers, proving he’s more than capable of rising to the occasion when his team needs him most.