Let’s look back at the past week for the Flyers, and we’ll hand out our 3-Star selections.
Game 8: Flyers at Capitals (10/23/2024) // Flyers 3, Capitals 6
Ivan Fedotov got the start in this one and it didn’t go to plan, where he made 19 saves of 23 shots (.826 SV%). The Capitals struck first within the first six minutes of the game on a deflected shot. Then, the Capitals struck early in the 2nd period, shortly after killing off a penalty to go up 2-0 on the Flyers. Just 1 minute and 15 seconds later, following a miscue by the Flyers led to a breakaway and the Caps were up by 3. Minutes later, another deflection in front and the Flyers were down by 4 with over half the game still to be played.
Credit the Flyers for not caving completely in this game. TK and Tippett scored before the end of the 2nd to take something positive into the dressing room. The Flyers put up some fight in the 2nd period, putting 17 shots on net, which was positive considering that the middle stanza has been their weak spot this year. Michkov found a way to get a shot from the point through traffic on the Power Play mid-way through the 3rd period and the Flyers had life. The Flyers Power Play was 2 of 4 in this game and this year, gives the Flyers a better chance to get back into games than in the past few years. Unfortunately, the comeback was not in store in this one as the Capitals grabbed two separate empty-net goals to put this one away.
Game 9: Wild at Flyers (10/26/2024) // Flyers 7, Wild 5
Sam Ersson started in net in this game and made 21 saves on 26 shots (.808 SV%). The Flyers Power Play went 1-2 in this one, which is a good sign, in both that the Power Play is operating efficiently, and in this game at least, the Flyers finally got some 5-on-5 scoring.
The captain, Sean Couturier led the team in this one nothing a hat-trick along with 2 goals and a +5 on the night, while also notching his 500th career NHL point in his impressive career. The story in this one was the newly formed top-line TK, Couturier and Michkov, which put up a combined 12 points in roughly 18 minutes of on-ice time, each. Couturier showed that he’s back and feeling good this year and at least for one night, much enjoyed playing with TK and Michkov, especially finding himself on the wing and down in the line-up earlier this month.
Game 9: Canadiens at Flyers (10/27/2024) //Canadiens 4, Flyers 3
Following another tough outing by Fedotov, the Flyers somewhat unexpectedly called up Alexei Kolosov, the 22-year-0ld netminder whom started the season with the Phantoms in the AHL. The young goalie did, in fact, make his first career NHL start where he collected 20 saves on 24 shots (.833%). The Canadiens struck first with 9:18 left in the 1st period, jamming in a rebound out front. Sanheim was able to tie the game late in the 1st period with a shot from the point through a screen. Sadly, the Flyers were down 4-1 by the end of the 2nd period, chasing yet another game. The never-say-die Flyers found two goals from Sanheim and Konecny scoring in the find five minutes, however, again, time-runs out on another comeback attempt this season. Simply put, the Flyers need to find ways to stop chasing games.
Game 10: Flyers at Bruins (10/29/2024) // Flyers 2, Boston 0
This game was a nail-bitter, but perhaps exactly what the doctor ordered. Sam Ersson earned his first shut0ut of the young season, stopping all 25 shots he faced, helping him bring his season save percentage to a .890 SV%. Perhaps the Flyers played the Bruins not firing on all cylinders, yet. Regardless, this Flyers team desperately needed a game they were not chasing, especially within the first 5 minutes. In this tilt, Tyson Foerster got the Flyers on the board just after the five-minute mark. The Flyers locked this one down and Farabee was able to secure the win with the empty net goal.
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Game 11: Blues at Flyers (10/31/2024) // Flyers 2, Blues 1
The Flyers kept the momentum rolling, and for the second game in a row, Sam Ersson grabbed the #1 star of the game, making 21 saves on 22 attempts (.952 SV%). Hathaway scored at 8:48 of the 1st on a beautiful feed by Poehling, following his individual skating and stick-handling exhibition on the play. The Blues scored at just before the midway mark in the 3rd period on a loose rebound into the slot and a lost man in coverage. The Flyers night would be saved with Brink jamming home a rebound in the slot with 3 minutes to go in the game.
Three Stars of the Week
3rd Star: Sean Couturier
What an up and down week of games for the Flyers. With the Flyers desperately needing a win and at home against the Wild, tied at 4 in the 3rd, Couturier picked up a hat-trick and his line put-up a combined 12 points that night. Unfortunately for the Flyers, the only points he scored over the past week, including the three Minnesota game, despite more ice time. However, the Flyers defense, including defensive forwards like Couturier, stepped up and secured two low score wins.
2nd Star: Travis Sanheim
Netting two goals and an assist in a lackluster game against the Canadiens was huge for Sanheim as he tries to get himself going offensively. For the season, through 11 games, he only had 3 goals and 2 assists, but he is a plus 1 +/- and he’s logging huge minutes on the backend of the Flyers, including the aforementioned low-score wins. Sanheim has logged an average 24 minutes on ice this season.
1st Star: Sam Ersson
Prior to this game, Tortorella looked like a coach in search of an answer. Signal Sam Ersson to the rescue. Earning the first star in the game over the past two games tells you almost all you need to know this week for Sam. Sam turned in a desperately needed gem in goal on Tuesday night against Boston. Prior to this game, the Flyers arguably had the worst goaltending league-wide to start the season. Following that shutout win, he turned in another great game against the Blues, at a time this Flyers team needed a few strong games in net. The Minnesota game was wide-open, and it was great to see him tighten things up. Overall, he picked up 3 wins this week that his team sorely needed.
It’s a dynamic league with incredible talents and scoring threats each night. The Flyers are a young team, which them prove nightly. especially on Defense and in the net.
It was good to see the Flyers find a way to tighten up on defense and hold on to some leads. Will it continue?
PHOTO: Yong Kim / Philadelphia Inquirer
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