Flyers captain Sean Couturier spoke of “simplifying their game” before the Flyers took the ice in Philly on Saturday night. The team picked up their 1st win of the season beating the visiting Ottawa Senators 3-1. And, to be honest, the keys to this game were much more complicated than just simplifying things.

The Flyers are a team in deep turmoil. This win doesn’t change that fact. It’s surly a step in the right direction but the fact remains. We don’t need to rehash all the dirty details again right now. After the game the Flyers captain summed it up this way, “it’s one win we still have a lot of work to do” and he’s not wrong.

Fighting for Time

There is still a disconnect here. Flyers leading scorer Matvei Michkov made this win happen. He set up the home team’s opening goal. He placed a perfect pass between the skates of a crouching Senator, across the slot, and right onto the tape of Porter Martone’s stick. Martone was in perfect position to snap the puck past Linus Ullmark, just over the pad but under the glove.

This goal by the 3rd line tied the score at one after the Senators struck first. After the game Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said, “I heard a bunch of guys, not a bunch but a couple of guys, I can’t remember who said it but they said hey we’re playing really well we’re still OK, so that was nice to hear.”

The Flyers “go-ahead” and eventual GWG was scored by the same combination of players this time on the power-play. The Flyers had just made a line change Michkov remained on the ice with the second unit. Martone fired a shot from the left hand side. The puck rebounded off Ullmark’s pad and right to Michkov who was camped out in the crease with a ton of net to shoot at.

After the game Tocchet was asked if Michkov was supposed to stay out there. The answer started out with “That depends.” So apparently Michkov took it upon himself to stay on the ice. Michkov is fighting for ice time. As a 3rd line winger he logged 14:29 TOI in this game which is slightly lower than his average time on ice per game of 14:52 so far this season. To put that in context Michael Bunting logged 15:29 in this same game.

This was Michkov and Martone’s 3rd game as linemates. After the game Michkov spoke of remembering his 1st season and of doing his best to support Martone. Martone said “as time goes on and you kind of develop more chemistry you know, I think we can bring a lot to this team.” Martone has been averaging 13:15 TOI per game so far, a considerable drop off from the 17:02 average his logged last season.

Keys

Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar played an exceptional game vs the Senators stopping 25 of 26 Ottawa shots. He made “that save” over and over again in this contest. Clutch, on point, and unshakable. This was arguably his strongest appearance so far this season. His glove was red hot, his positioning was on point, he was the Dan Vladar we got to know last season. He allowed just one goal, it was a two on one situation, and it resulted from a beautiful set up from take a wild guess.

Dan Vladar and the Flyers held the Senators at bay after getting outshot 11-4 in the 3rd period and killing a late Ottawa power play. Trevor Zegras scored on the open net to set the final score at 3-1 in favor of Philadelphia.

Inspiration

I just looked up Jason Myrtetus’s “official job title” because it seems like he does everything. That’s because he actually does. “Digital Content Creator, Flyers Daily Podcast Host, Radio pre-game, intermission, post-game host.” Flyers fans know and love Jason as an interictal part of their Philly hockey experience. He knows the sport and this team inside and out.

He was invited by coach Tocchet to speak with the team after the morning skate on Saturday. Both he and the coach chose to keep what he had to say private but in part it was focused on being grateful for the here and now so to speak. He reminded the team to to be happy because they are in the NHL and playing the game that they love.

Other than that all we know is the room was silent after he finished speaking. The Flyers went out afterwards and won their 1st game of the season after nine straight failed attempts. After the game Jason was awarded the game puck by the coach. Sean Couturier presented him with the celebratory “Rocky” gloves as the team surrounded him.

Jason is font of hockey smarts, a true gentleman, and the biggest heavy metal fan you’d ever want to meet. The battle he is currently fighting puts the rest of this mess in total perspective.

In his own words: “That win was not for me. It’s not about me. That win was for every fan. I could see the start of the season was hurting a lot of fans. I’m proud of the way the boys came together in that game. They had to deal with some adversity with the Sens scoring first, having to kill a late penalty, and they didn’t buckle. Now it is onto the next one knowing the only way to do it is together.”

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