The Philadelphia Flyers came-back from a 1-0 third period deficit to beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime.
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Forecheck… a word that will be stitched in the Flyers brains if they are going to have success under Rick Tocchet.
As Nikita Grebenkin said best – forecheck, backcheck, paycheck – his Flyers teammates are starting to buy into the system of Tocchet.
Through the first five games of the season, while minimal at times, the Flyers have done a great job at forechecking. It has resulted in many of their goals this season.
Down 1-0 mid-way through the third period, it was the line of Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Owen Tippett that were rewarded for their efforts.
Zegras’ pressure on a Wild defender allowed Dvorak to bat down the puck out of mid-air to start the Flyers pressure. It was then all Tippett to tie the game.
His third goal of the season was a result of never giving up after firing a hard wrist shot on net. Then, getting to his own rebound and banking it in from behind the net off Jesper Wallstedt.
It was Zegras’ fourth point as a Flyers, extending his point streak to four games.
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Matvei Michkov did not see the ice in the second half of the third period. His last shift came with 11:48 left in the period.
It was the second time this season that Rick Tocchet has shortened his bench late in the game and Michkov has been one of the odd men out. The other being the Carolina 4-3 loss in overtime.
Just like in Carolina, Tocchet chose to go with the players moving their legs in overtime. Again, leaving Michkov out in a period of time where he excels.
In overtime, it was the Flyers best forecheck would get the game winner.
After Dan Vladar almost made a mess of keeping a puck alive, it sprung the Flyers on a 3-on-2 as Minnesota tried to change.
Tyson Foerster would drop the puck to Noah Cates as he cleared the defender out of the way. It allowed Cates to turn to his forehand and fire the winner past Jesper Wallstedt.
Dan Vladar finished with 15 saves for his second win of the season.
The Flyers return to action on Monday when they host the Seattle Kraken at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 7:00pm.
PHOTO CREDIT: Len Redkoles – Getty Images
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