Your Philadelphia Flyers were rocking before the Coronavirus hit, and halted the season. They sat in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points, and for their efforts, the Flyers were rocking due to the solid play of one pairing in particular in Travis Sanheim and Philippe Myers.
Sanheim was back to his old form of razzling and dazzling between defenders, but playing well defensively, as yesterday, and Myers was right with him, “At first, maybe before the first shift, I was a little nervous,” Myers said, “Then it just became like any other game. I kind of got zoned out there and making plays. Felt good out there. I think it was a good team win. Hartsy shut the doors for us and we took care of everything else. It was a good team win. We’ll take it and move forward.”
Myers said this past Saturday that him and Sanheim are very comfortable with one another, “Obviously, we’ve been with the Flyers organization for like 5 years. We played together in Lehigh. I know him a little bit personally. He’s a great guy. Easy to play with. He skates well. He can make plays with the puck. I think we complement each other pretty well on the ice. It’s fun going through this with him. Looking forward to playoffs here.”
The young 24-year-old, 6’3″ 181 pound, Sanheim entered the 2018-19 season with one goal in mind, improve from last year. In his first stint with the orange and black in 2017-18, Sanheim found himself in and out of the lineup at times. Fast forward to the 2018-19 season, and he became a permanent fixture on the Flyers blue line, emerging as one of the most consistent Defensemen that the Flyers had. Myers, aged 23 had similar goals, and he just wanted to stay up with the Flyers for good. Both of these young defensemen found themselves playing against the Boston Bruins top line at times yesterday, and they completed the task effectively with clean zone exits. Moreover, they both transitioned well from defense to offense, “We were clicking today,” Myers said of him and Sanheim, “We were just making plays out there. I think we were calm and composed with the puck. We had a lot of poise. Like I’ve said before, we’ve been together in the Flyers organization for like five years. We played together in Allentown. We played together this year. I think we have a lot of chemistry. We have a lot of similarities in our games. It’s fun playing with him. I’m looking forward to just go through playoffs with him and take this head on.”
These young, gifted Defensemen in Sanheim and Myers have made the most of their NHL opportunity when they have been given the chance to do so. Sanheim, now paired with Myers, have made their fair share of mistakes, but with that, their game has grown to where they are now permanent fixtures as middle pairing defensemen. Good for them, and with Myers needing a new contract at year’s end, maybe Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher can re-sign him asap. However, Alain Vigneault thinks this pair has grown a lot, and really developed some chemistry, “I really like this pairing,” Vigneault said, “They have grown a lot, and have developed chemistry. We have asked a lot from them.” When Myers scores clutch goals like he did above to put the Flyers up 3-1, it really helps increase your value.
Sanheim and Myers were fantastic before the suspension. They were in the passing lanes, their gap control was better, and this pairing were just confident with the puck which were leading to quick zone exits. Moreover, for their efforts they have formed a trusting relationship, “Obviously, taking their top line off the scoresheet,” Myers said, “The goal’s a bonus. I’m a defenseman. My job is to stop the other team’s top players. The goal’s just a side bonus. I had an opportunity and I took it. I’m glad it went in and I could chip in offensively.”
This pairing in Sanheim and Myers continues to grow. Yesterday, Myers did not look like a player that was making his postseason debut, rather he looked like a Veteran with how well composed he was for the majority of the game. It’s something that is quite impressive to see. Sanheim and Myers have quickly transformed this young defensive unit into a force to be reckoned with for years to come in the NHL, and a lot of their success has to do with the trust from the coaching staff. They are just feeding of the great relationship they have formed with the experienced coaching staff, and it’s giving them tons o9f confidence.
