The Philadelphia Flyers dress rehearsal for opening night didn’t go exactly to plan. But, there were some good points.
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If tonight was opening night for the Flyers, no one would have been happier than head coach Rick Tocchet.
Tocchet discussed his expectations for the team this morning and got his first look at them tonight. It was a dress rehearsal of what opening night could look like in a weeks time.
“I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent in stone, but the majority of it, I would say yes,” Rick Tocchet told reporters on Thursday morning. “Most teams at this point, the last couple of games, you start to try to chunk things together.”
Christian Dvorak, who signed with the Flyers in the offseason, was a point of emphasis by Tocchet.
“The guy I got to get more ice time… Dvorak,” Tocchet told reporters this morning. Due to the depth at center, Dvorak is the fourth center behind Sean Couturier, Trevor Zegras, and Noah Cates.
Tocchet added, “that’s the one guy I got to make sure I get him some other looks and other times on the ice.”
One of those looks will come on the wing with Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras. This was showcased just 3:32 into the game.
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With Michkov and Zegras on the ice for a defensive zone face-off, instead of Owen Tippett, it was Dvorak. He also took the faceoff, which seems to be the game plan when that situation arises.
Last season, Dvorak finished 55.8% in the face-off dot. His third time in the last four seasons finishing above 55%.
Another time Tocchet will use him is on the penalty kill. Just 65 seconds into the game, Dvorak created the opening goal for the Flyers while on the penalty kill.
His active stick poked the puck away from an Islanders player at the blue line, creating a breakaway opportunity. Instead of shooting, he pulled Ilya Sorokin out of the net and dropped the puck to Travis Sanheim for the goal.
With Ryan Poehling now in Anaheim, a part of the trade package sent to the Ducks for Trevor Zegras, the Flyers are in need of a do-it-all center.
Early on, especially with his history with Tocchet, Dvorak is doing just that.
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POWER-PLAY SHINES AGAIN
After finishing with the NHL’s worst power-play in two of the past three seasons, an overhaul of the Flyers man advantage wasn’t just needed. It was one of the most important focuses in the offseason.
For the second straight home game, the Flyers power play has looked completely different. Once again, finding the back of the net.
Tonight’s goal was a highlight to one of the main problems the Flyers faced so often the past few years, the entry.
Instead of dumping and chasing, the Flyers newfound success is being able to skate the puck in. This has created open passing lanes as the defense retreats into the zone.
Noah Cates capitalized on the opportunity created by the zone entry on the Flyers lone power play. It was his third goal of the preseason.
PHOTO CREDIT: Emilee Chinn – Getty Images
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