Photo Credit: Our very own Samantha Wismer
The Philadelphia Flyers wrapped up their rookie games on Saturday night, beating the rookies of the New York Rangers by a final score of 5-1. Despite the score, the Flyers did not necessarily dominate the game, but they were able to show off some impressive skill that was not matched by the Rangers. Let’s get into some observations before the Flyers kick-off training camp this week.
- Samuel Ersson
Ersson was the story of the game. He did not play in the first game but he stole the show on Saturday night. Stopping 36 of 37 shots, Ersson later admitted that he felt stronger as the game wore on. Not only did he play extremely well all night, he was a big reason why the Flyers killed off five penalties. When a team is given five powerplays, the expectation is that they will find a way to pot at least one goal. Ersson’s saves won the Flyers this game and drew him some praise from Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ head coach Ian Laperrière after the game. Lappy said that he thought Ersson was great and is excited to see how he builds on this performance.
- Olle Lycksell
Lycksell will be playing his first year in North America this season. A 6th-round pick back in 2017, Lycksell has been playing in Sweden since being drafted. He just turned 23 and will be given a full year with the Phantoms to show he can play in the AHL. Lycksell had a great two games, scoring a goal in both games and adding two assists in the 5-1 win Saturday night. Lycksell’s four points in these games are a great thing to see from a lesser-known prospect. The fact that he has shown he can handle playing against prospects from another team should give the organization confidence he will be a contributor in Lehigh Valley.
- Egor Zamula
Zamula’s goal in the first period can be summed up in one word: beauty. The 22-year-old blue-liner spent 10 games in the NHL last year with the Flyers, playing with everyone from Keith Yandle to Ivan Provorov. He will be given the chance to compete with Ronnie Attard and Cam York for the Flyers’ third pair opening. York is heavily-favoured and expected to be in the NHL full-time this year, but Zamula is at the stage of his career now where he needs to show what he can do against the pros. In 58 games in Lehigh Valley last year, he was a +2 with 29 points. In 12 career NHL games, he’s a -5 while not registering on the scoresheet. He added weight this summer to help him be more of a physical presence in front of the net which is something that should only help him. He needs an extended look in the NHL before a verdict can truly be reached, but he has to earn it this camp.
- Tyson Foerster
Foerster had the game-winning goal in overtime in the 2-1 win on Friday night and assisted on Zamula’s goal Saturday night. It’s a good sign he’s contributing offensively, but he took two penalties Saturday night. The first was a boarding penalty during the first period, and the second was a cross-check that came after the whistle causing a scrum in the second. The cross-check was clearly a lack of discipline and it sent the Ranger player into the back of Ersson’s net. Penalty minutes were never a concern with Foerster in junior, but he has 20 PIM in his 33 AHL games. Other than the penalties, though, Foerster played a really solid game. He was involved physically throughout the game, finishing hits and played well alongside the Cates brothers on the top line. He also took the “Giroux” spot on the Flyers’ powerplay and made good decisions trying to open up passing and shooting lanes for himself and his teammates. The hope is he can crack the NHL at some point this season, but proving he can stay healthy and produce for an extended amount of time in Lehigh Valley is more realistic. If he does that, he could be up by December.
- Noah Cates
The favorite to win the third-line left wing job when camp starts Thursday when the on-ice portion of Training Camp begins. Cates scored a short-handed goal (assisted by his brother) and played very well overall. He did not look like a rookie and he does not carry himself like one either. Cates is 23 and played pretty well in the NHL last year. He managed to get 16 games of experience with the Flyers, and scored five goals along with four assists. That’s a pace of 46 points in the regular season (25-21-46). Cates might be a rookie, but he might end up being one of the Flyers’ better players this year.
- Leadership
The short-handed goal from Cates and the bomb from the point on the powerplay from Attard show leadership. Attard and Cates, while technically “rookies” are older guys and stepped up and led by example Saturday night. Cates and Attard were both physical, bringing their teammates into the fight with them, and both of them picked up goals on special teams. Cates’ goal on the penalty kill gave the Flyers so much more life on the bench. The team was in the process of killing its third penalty of the game, morale may have been a bit low. Cates stepped up and took the life out of the Rangers. Attard, after having a penalty earlier in the game came back with a big powerplay goal late in the game. The game was already decided, but the older guys showing to never take the foot off the gas should not be overlooked. It hopefully instills the killer instinct in the younger guys and teaches them how to win no matter what happened earlier in the game. Ersson gets a nod here as well for his efforts, including help kill off five powerplays.
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