Photo Credit: Our very own Rob Windfelder
The Flyers looked fast, organized, and dangerous in all situations as the 2023-24 season officially got underway. The franchise is now 7-0-2 in their last nine opening night games. They outshot the Blue Jackets 37-33 and defeated them by the score of 4-2 in Columbus. Travis Konecny, Joel Farabee, and Carter Hart were standouts but almost every player on the roster had a solid game. Coach John Tortorella was his animated self as he rolled through his bench giving every player a chance to contribute to the victory.
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Joel Farabee opened the scoring just 3:33 into the 1st period. A Columbus breakdown allowed Farabee and Sean Couturier to skate through the slot on a two man breakaway. Coots dished the puck to Farabee who wasted no time netting the Flyers first goal of the new season.
As the period went on the Flyers looked sharp, spending a lot of time in the Blue Jackets zone. The line of Couturier, Farabee, and Bobby Brink were putting on a ton of pressure and getting plenty of good chances. The possessions continued as Morgan Frost, Owen Tippett, and Cam Atkinson replaced them. The 4th line of Ryan Poehling, Garnet Hathaway, and Nicolas Deslauriers got plenty of ice time and a nickname that may end up sticking. During the course of the night they ended up being referred to as the PHD Line. Pretty catchy, I guess.
A clumsy Flyers line change during a Columbus rush cost them a goal. Jake Bean put a rebound home while the Flyers were still outnumbered in their own zone. The Flyers took the lead right back on a smart play by Scott Laughton. Laughton entered the Columbus zone and just when it looked like he was out of room he jammed on the breaks and dropped the puck to a charging Travis Konecny who put the puck long side behind Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlinkins. The teams went into the first intermission with the Flyers ahead 2-1.
The second period started out with some really tight play that got a little too tight and eventually morphed into what you’d call chippy. This gave us a chance to see some of the Flyers special teams in action. Travis Konecny finally popped off on Erik Gudbranson and they both went off for roughing. Frost and Atkinson looked really crafty on the ensuing 4-on-4.
Special Teams
Special teams is an area where the Flyers absolutely have to improve this season. It’s been a weak spot for the team for quite some time. Last year they started getting much more aggressive offensively on the penalty kill and that approach seems to have carried over. Last year they were calling that aggressive PK the “power kill” and for good reason. I keeps the other team’s power play in a defensive mindset when they should be focused on scoring.
Poehling almost scored a shorty when he carried the puck halfway down the ice before attempting a wrap around from behind the net. Later in the game Scott Laughton drew a penalty for the short handed Flyers right in front of the Blue Jackets net. Their aggressive penalty kill was causing risky situations for the Blue Jackets. It’s almost like the Flyers are more dangerous on the PK than on the PP.
The Power Play
The Flyers power-play was hit or miss tonight. Sometimes solid and exciting and other times just plain flat. Bobby Brink really adds a spark to the man advantage. It’s part of the reason he is the one who made the team straight out of camp to play on opening night. Cam York also kept things moving on the PP. There’s potential but there’s still a lot of work to be done.
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The Big Finish
The Flyers clung to their 2-1 lead deep into the 3rd period. As the game was winding down an unfortunate icing led to a faceoff in the Flyers end that gave Columbus a chance to pull their goalie for the extra attacker. With 2:12 left in regulations most of the play was taking place in the Flyers end. Columbus was really making a run at it. Carter Hart who was very solid in the Flyers net all night was called on to make several big saves.
With a minute and a half left and the Blue Jackets swarming Carter Hart wrapped the puck around the boards springing Cam Atkinson all alone towards the open Columbus net. First Cam had to beat former Flyer Ivan Provorov to the puck which is no easy task. It was Atkinson’s first goal against his former team and it took a ton of pressure off for the Flyers. …for a total of 46 seconds.
Things got scrambly in the Flyers end and Patrick Laine scored to put the Jackets within one goal yet again.
Carter Hart continued to keep Columbus at bay. Travis Konecny scored the final goal of the game into the empty net with one tenth of a second left. After reviewing the goal to make sure there was still time on the clock the Flyers won the game by the final score of 4-2.
Extra Credit:
This game showed a lot about this Flyers team and what they may be capable of. There were a few breakdowns. A few ill advised plays. But overall the team looked surprisingly good. They were getting on loose pucks, taking control of the play, and making the most of their opportunities all night long. This game was fun to watch. Time will tell as the season wears on but we may be in for some pleasant surprises along the way.
