Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images
Interim Head Coach, Mike Yeo finally had the opportunity to hold a few more practices after 5 games in a 7-night stretch. The subtle changes Yeo has been implementing are making a difference already as the Flyers are currently 3-0-1 in their last 4 games. As a result, the chance to grab 9 out of a possible 10 points in their previous 5 games is on the table for the Flyers if they can defeat the Senators on Saturday.
One would assume that with even more practice time to follow in the upcoming weeks before the NHL breaks for the holiday’s Yeo will be able to put into place all the changes he sees fit in terms of how the veteran Coach wants his Flyers to play. This is crucial in order for the Flyers to continue their momentum. Most importantly, the Flyers need to develop an identity with their play and stick to it.Â
Under Yeo, the beginnings of said identity seem to be forming rather quickly though all the pieces are not yet in place. Below are the changes Yeo has started to make to the Flyers systems both offensively and defensively based on what I’ve noticed watching the team’s games, as well as, through some player commentary within media availabilities.
Offensive Adjustments
On the offensive side of things, the major change to note is the Flyers pulling back considerably in their over-reliance on the dump and chase strategy. Under Alain Vigneault’s offensive schemes the Flyers would always dump the puck in and try to retrieve it instead of making controlled entries into the offensive zone when the chance presented itself. Due to the Flyers lack of speed as a forward unit, this caused issues concerning high danger scoring chance creation, puck possession time, and wearing themselves out since they were constantly chasing the puck.
What Mike Yeo has started to engrain is giving the players the free reign to either carry the puck into the offensive zone or to dump the puck in when they so choose if their opponent is aggressive with their defensive gaps at the blue line. Allowing the forwards some more offensive creativity in regards to the team’s overall attack is a welcoming adjustment as players are not being forced to attack in one way however have the freedom to make plays based on what is available to them on the ice and their surroundings at the moment. Giving players that choice usually results in more trust between the coaching staff and roster which can certainly be seen in the team’s execution on the ice in the prior handful of games.
It was also noted by Cam Atkinson in the Flyers postgame press conference on December 14th that the team’s structure has changed considerably and that Yeo has communicated he wants forwards to capitalize on their transition play and take pucks to the net versus looking for the perfect passing play.
Another noteworthy comment coming from Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen states that the coaching staff is encouraging the defenseman on the team to get involved in the rush up the ice when possible. This is certainly a change from the previous mandate as rushes up the ice by a defenseman were not seen quite often or at all.
Such changes speak to the fact that Mike Yeo sees the strengths of this offense and the Flyers offensive capabilities as a whole very differently than Alain Vigneault. So far the interim Head Coach’s perspective regarding his strategies in transition, the neutral zone, and in the oppositions zone has been paying off offensively as the Flyers have scored 22 goals in 6 games since Yeo’s taken over. In comparison, the Flyers only scored 19 goals in Vignuealt’s last 11 games behind the bench speaking to the improvement the Flyers have been showing from an offensive standpoint.
Defensive Adjustments
Defensively a lot of things have stayed the same for the Flyers. Though some minor tweaks and changes to their already collapsing style of play in their own zone have made the team more effective in clearing the puck and transitioning play up the ice more efficiently.
The biggest change made to the team’s defensive structure has been ensuring the wingers are no longer fleeing the zone early looking for breakaways and odd-man rush chances the other way up the ice. Making this strategical switch has also stopped massive gaps from being created between the defense and forwards. Having smaller gaps between players looking to transition up the ice has allowed the Flyers to exit the zone cleaner with a lot more passing precision and in turn, the team has been able to gain speed while receiving these passes.
With said speed, moving forward into the offensive zone creating smoother and cleaner zone entries all-around has been much more frequent for the Flyers. As opposed to the team when Vigneault was at the helm which lacked neutral zone speed completely and rarely if ever carried the puck into the zone. All this is occurring from just a simple revision of the team’s defensive strategy in which wingers are no longer flying the defensive zone to possibly receive a 150 ft stretch pass through neutral zone pressure.Â
The team has also appeared to be more cohesive as a five-man unit. Forwards are supporting defensemen for outlet passes and giving them different options of where they can break the puck out of their own end up the ice. Consequently, allowing the team to create more offense due to puck movement in transition from the defensive zone, through the neutral zone to the offensive zone.
Looking Ahead
Despite the changes to the team’s strategic makeup it is still clear the Flyers are not yet a finished product in regards to the process of their play. This was certainly seen in the 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens yesterday evening.
Mike Yeo has his work cut out for him as emphasizing attention to detail in the defensive zone is an area of the Flyers game that needs to be worked on. At times the team tends to turn over the puck in their own end. While also, failing to clear the puck out when there is ample time to do so. Fixing these issues would go a long way in establishing the Flyers ability to play the well-rounded and complete brand of hockey required to be a competitive team in the Metropolitan Division.
With a crucial 3 game stretch ahead the Flyers can only hope last night’s performance process-wise was a blip on the radar to climbing back into the Eastern Conference playoff race.
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Gettin Gritty Wit It
Below is the latest episode of the Gettin Gritty Wit It podcast. Yariv and I discuss a wide variety of topics and go further into depth about the Flyers offensive and defensive strategies and structures similarly to the theme of this article above. Thanks to everyone for listening, please like, subscribe, and comment!
