RALEIGH, N.C. — On Sunday night time, the Flyers dropped their third straight sport, and their third straight after regulation, with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Sure, it’s a shedding streak, however the Flyers had been dealing with the Japanese Convention’s greatest for the second straight night time. And whereas issues began slowly for Philly, it was capable of finding its footing and snag a degree.
Listed below are two gamers who performed a giant position.
Storm entrance
The Flyers might have been taking part in the Hurricanes, however there’s a storm entrance coming from Trevor Zegras. Acquired in June, the 24-year-old from New York is on tempo to smash his profession highs.
Zegras is driving a four-game level streak (three targets, three assists) and has 13 targets and 32 factors in 31 video games. He has already tied his level complete from final season in 57 video games.
If he maintains this tempo, he’ll rating 34 targets and 85 factors. His profession highs are 23 targets and 65 factors, set within the 2022-23 season.
» READ MORE: Flyers drop second straight sport to Hurricanes in 3-2 shootout loss
Coach Rick Tocchet agreed that Zegras was one of many higher gamers for the Flyers proper from puck drop.
“He desires the puck. He desires to make performs,” Tocchet stated. “That’s what we would like from him; he’s been doing all of it 12 months. After which when he will get the puck, he’s making performs by the center of the ice, which is good.”
Zegras tied Nick Seeler for the staff lead on Sunday with seven shot makes an attempt. Though three missed the online and two pictures had been blocked, two extra had been on purpose, with one discovering the again of the online.
That purpose got here within the final two minutes of the sport to tie it up and pressure extra time. Nevertheless it was one second of many by Zegras that set the tone.
Within the first interval, with the Flyers trailing 1-0 and having only one shot on purpose, and on their second straight energy play, Emil Andrae was struggling with Seth Jarvis deep within the Flyers’ zone.
Zegras came visiting and adopted one of many fundamentals when there’s a man benefit: Should you lose possession, you want two gamers on the puck. He threw successful on Jarvis — simply the eleventh by the lithe ahead this season — with Andrae squeezing him out on the opposite facet, ending the Hurricanes ahead’s possession.
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It wasn’t essentially the most altering second of the sport, but it surely appeared to say that it was time to finish the Flyers’ poor play. And the Flyers did begin to choose up the tempo after that, powered by Zegras.
“I imply, it’s a staff sport,” he stated when requested about carrying the load. “It’s a staff effort, particularly when you’re speaking energy play. I undoubtedly simply attempt to do what I can to be the perfect for my teammates. However I imply, these guys had been making performs all night time.”
In keeping with Pure Stat Trick, Zegras had one rebound try and created one other two, with one coming from Noah Cates atop the crease because the Flyers seemed for the equalizer within the third interval.
He additionally led the staff with six scoring possibilities. None got here throughout five-on-five play. Most got here throughout six-on-five motion — the Flyers scored each targets at this power, one on a delayed penalty and the second with the goalie pulled.
Initially, with Andrae on the ability play alongside Zegras, Cates, Bobby Brink, and Owen Tippett, the Flyers had one missed shot and two extra blocked. However Tocchet moved Andrae off the unit — and in addition off the second pairing.
“I assumed Emil was struggling,” he stated about Andrae being moved right down to play with Noah Juulsen. “He’s been struggling the final couple of video games; not struggling, however has been a bit of bit off. Simply making an attempt some various things.”
Zegras’ outdated power-play buddy with the Anaheim Geese, Jamie Drysdale, was moved to the unit, and issues began to select up. This unit had eight possibilities, together with three pictures on purpose.
“I feel the ability play was good tonight,” Zegras stated. “I feel we obtained some seems that we needed to.
“We had the prescout on their penalty kill for the final couple days, so we form of knew what to anticipate, and simply lastly broke by on the six-on-five, which was good.”
Right here I’m
In Star Wars: A New Hope, Darth Vader says, “I discover your lack of religion disturbing.” He’s rather a lot nicer than the villain, however Dan Vladař might most likely say the identical to those that doubted his signing in July.
You can not lay any blame at Vladař on the 2 targets he allowed to Carolina — one off a damaged play and the opposite a deflection on an influence play — however you possibly can assuredly reward him for the 30 pictures he bested.
“He’s a stud,” Drysdale stated. “There actually isn’t any different manner round it. Each of our goalies have been nice this 12 months and actually, actually give us an opportunity. In order that additionally instills lots of confidence in our group, for positive.”
Within the first interval, he confronted 14 pictures on purpose, 9 within the second, seven within the third, and a pair in extra time. He obtained lots of work within the opening 5 minutes, 44 seconds, dealing with eight pictures on purpose in comparison with zero for the Flyers.
The Czech netminder, who ought to be getting a name quickly to characterize his nation within the Olympics, was usually noticed utilizing his blocker. He stopped Jordan Martinook within the second interval after which Carolina defenseman Ok’Andre Miller on a breakaway.
“He’s wonderful,” Zegras stated. “He saved my butt a few instances. However, I imply, it’s each night time, proper? You guys [the media] see it. It’s massive saves, well timed saves, saves that he shouldn’t even be making.”
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And whereas the official play-by-play says Jackson Blake missed the online, it was Vladař’s endurance and motion that compelled the son of former New York Islander ahead Jason Blake large.
In keeping with Pure Stat Trick, 19 pictures had been low-danger pictures — and Vladař stopped all of them.
“You have a look at their pictures, their pictures are from the corners and stuff like that, like they’re form of low-cost pictures. So we’re not too nervous about that,” stated defenseman Cam York, who returned to the lineup after lacking 4 video games.
“I feel we’re nervous about making an attempt to ensure these aren’t Grade A possibilities. And, you already know, Vladdy, he’s so good that he’s going to make these saves.”
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