The Flyers returned from a five-day break earlier this week and are now back in the full swing of things, so we thought it was a good time to bring back our weekly observations.
As we did last season, we’ll take a look at the best and worst moments of each week or whatever happened to stand out to us in game action.
So let's get started!
• Evgeny Medvedev has turned out to be quite the find by Flyers GM Ron Hextall. We’re just seven games in, but the Russian defenseman sure does look like a top-pair caliber player on the back end. He makes high-percentage passes, has an incredibly accurate — and heavy — shot from the point and is no slouch in his own end, either. There was one play, in particular, this week that showcased his awareness and really stood out to me. On Tuesday night, Dallas superstar Jamie Benn exited the penalty box and immediately put pressure on Medvedev with the play heading toward the Flyers’ zone. Medvedev shielded the puck from Benn and outmuscled him to maintain possession in front of Steve Mason. It was a play that many defensemen would wind up taking a penalty on. But Medvedev didn’t panic, kept his cool and was able to help the Flyers regroup into a clean breakout. Impressive stuff from the first-year NHLer.
• Brandon Manning, on the other hand, had a rough week. He was on the unfortunate end of a bouncing puck that led to Tyler Seguin’s goal in the first period of the Stars’ 2-1 win over the Flyers. It was a tough break, but Manning was still responsible for allowing Seguin to cleanly sneak behind him and get a clear one-on-one look on Mason. Then in the second period, Manning was a little too aggressive in the neutral zone and got caught pinching off the opening puck drop. Benn led a two-on-one charge the other way and wristed a shot past Mason just 11 seconds into the frame. Manning found himself in the press box Wednesday night in Boston but returned to the lineup Saturday against the Rangers. He was much stronger, but had a bit of a mishap on the Blueshirts’ first goal. He left the back post wide open and was out in no-man’s land in front of the net trying to find someone to cover. Scott Laughton was also in the vicinity after hustling on the backcheck but there didn’t appear to be any communication between the two players, which allowed an unmarked J.T. Miller to easily put the puck in the net. Manning has to be more aware of his surroundings in all three of those occasions.
• The Flyers had an absolutely brutal week on the man advantage. In eight power-play opportunities, they cashed in only once. Granted, their one PP marker was a big one — Claude Giroux’s overtime game-winner against the Bruins — but both units struggled mightily to get things going. The reason? Poor zone entries and a lack of puck possession. Over and over again they attempted to employ a dump-and-chase tactic once they reached the opposition’s blue line. At least 90 percent of the time (unofficial number) the puck landed right on the tape of a player not wearing an orange and black jersey for an easy clear. There was no sense of urgency and a severe lack of speed in transition. It’s an issue Dave Hakstol and the Flyers need to figure out.
• Sam Gagner shouldn’t have to worry about being scratched any time soon. Now it’s completely up to Hakstol who he plays and who he sits, but Gagner has shown he deserves a significant role on the Flyers’ offense. Case and point? That snipe he had against Boston. Or that deke in overtime against New York. Or that brilliant move in the shootout to help the Flyers to a 3-2 win over the Rangers. Take your pick. Gagner has been electric every time he’s been in uniform. He really seems to have found his passion for the game here with the Flyers and has a chance to be a key contributor. He’s handled what could’ve been an awkward situation like a true professional. His tenure as a Flyer started in the press box but he didn’t sulk or pout. He grinded it out, practiced hard and was motivated to show what he can do when his number was finally called. Even when everyone’s healthy, the Flyers can’t afford to take this guy out. He has too much skill and drive to be a healthy scratch right now.
NHL
• Speaking of Hakstol, the first-year NHL coach showed some mettle this week. Unless you count the debacle in Florida, which now looks like a fluke, Wednesday was the first time Hakstol faced true adversity. He lost Sean Couturier and Michal Neuvirth to injuries in the first period and Boston took over and dominated the second stanza, though the game was still in reach at 4-2. How did Hakstol respond? He rallied his troops and the leadership group responded, leading a ferocious charge which culminated in an encouraging come-from-behind win over the Bruins. What was more impressive was Hakstol’s in-game management against the New York Rangers on Saturday. Through the first six games and one period, the Flyers mostly relied on the dump-and-chase when entering the offensive zone. Hakstol clearly switched things up in the second period against the Rangers. The Flyers began to push for more controlled entries and the adjustment paid dividends. A combination of speed and effective control of the possession game threw the Rangers out of whack, which helped the Flyers build momentum and dictate the pace of the rest of the game. The team certainly looks like it has bought into Hakstol’s system. That’s a major positive moving forward.
• Talk about a gutsy performance. Mason, for the first time this season, looked like the goalie we’ve grown accustomed to seeing since he arrived in Philly when he outdueled Henrik Lundqvist on Saturday. Lundqvist was unbelievable and showed why he is considered one of the best netminders in the world against the Flyers but Mason was equally impressive, turning aside 37 of the 39 shots fired his way in addition to two key stops in the shootout. He continues to find inventive ways to keep the puck out of the net, as evidenced by his rollover save in Boston and his spinning stop against the Rangers, and the Flyers really feed off of his energy. Great to see him return to form and find some consistency this week.
• Jakub Voracek may not have a goal yet this season, but he’s been far from ineffective. He’s looked like his usual dominant self along the walls and in the corners. It’s almost impossible to knock him off the puck and he has a keen sense of what he has to do in all areas of the ice. I’ve said this before but his play is reminiscent of a young — and even current — Jaromir Jagr. Look at both goals Voracek assisted on against the Bruins. He outworked the defending players on both plays and somehow managed to get the puck through high-traffic areas. It’s only a matter of time before he breaks into the goal column himself. After all, he does lead the Flyers with 28 shots on target through seven games.
• The injuries are beginning to pile up for the Flyers. Couturier, Neuvirth and Michael Raffl all appeared to suffer head injuries this week, though the team would only admit to the trio suffering “upper-body injuries.” The Flyers need to be careful and give each player as much time needed to fully recover. Couturier and Neuvirth were visibly dazed in Boston and Raffl collapsing on the bench against the Rangers made for an incredibly scary situation. The NHL has a strict protocol when it comes to head injuries, so don’t expect any of these guys back until they receive full medical clearance.
• R.J. Umberger looks like a completely different player this season. The veteran forward battled through hip/abdomen ailments for most of the 2014-15 season and was largely ineffective when on the ice. But he returned with a clean bill of health after undergoing surgery last March and has been very active. You can tell he’s feeling good, too. His skating is much improved and he’s been able to contribute three assists in the four games he’s played. He’s also meshed well with youngster Scott Laughton. Their developing chemistry is something worth keeping an eye on.
• I love what Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Ryan White and Chris VandeVelde bring to the Flyers. You’d be hard-pressed to find a fourth line that works as hard as this unit. They’re relentless on the forecheck, finish their checks and can also be used to kill penalties. Sure, they can get into some trouble when pinned in their own end. But for the most part this season, they’ve given the opposition fits with their energy. They won’t fill up the box score, but they’re more than capable of chipping in a goal here and there. That’s not something that could be said often for the Flyers’ fourth lines of the past.