Date Published: 1-25-2023
Photo Credit: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers had to settle for one point last night but there were some positive things you could take away from this game. Since taking over the Flyers bench John Tortorella really has bought out the best in his players. Many of the veterans seem totally rejuvenated in their commitment to the game. This coach is always looking to improve even the greatly improved. It may sound negative at times but it is actually a very optimistic outlook. Things can always be better, and they need to be. He shows his confidence in his players by where and when he choses to use them.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
James van Riemsdyk scored the Flyers firs goal after Owen Tippett busted his way through the Kings defense and delivered a perfect pass. It was the type of assist that you can watch on replay over and over again. It has been a pattern this season that whoever gets to play on a line with JVR has become a better player because of it. He has been a really good influence on the younger players around him. I don’t know if it is conversational or just by example but the results have been obvious.
Tortorella allows his players to develop their own personal skill sets as long as they can fit into the team’s overall framework and game plan. That being said Wade Allison’s goal tonight was the most Wade Allison-est goal possible. The guy is relentless. Some may be tempted to describe his playing style as chaotic. I would disagree. I would say his playing style often causes chaos, but that is a completely different statement. Allison moves fast, loves to throw the body check, never gives up on the play, and really likes to get things going out there. Wade scored the Flyers second goal of the game. He got sprung through the neutral zone turning a 1-on-1 into a partial breakaway with the defender still kind of stuck on his back. It took three shots to finally get the puck past the goaltender. Wade kept whacking away at his own rebounds till the puck was in the net and he was sliding into the backboards. Good stuff.
Rasmus Ristolainen scored the Flyers third and final goal on the night from right in front of the Kings net. For some reason Morgan Frost was at the point and Risto was alone in the slot. Not sure if it was supposed to be a shot or a pass from Frost but Ristolainen took the puck from his skate to his stick and put it away. Tortorella has been asking Ristolainen to focus mainly on his defensive game and not to worry about offensive contributions or the lack thereof until his defensive game is solid. Lately both of those things seem headed in the right direction.
Every time the Flyers got on the board the Kings countered with a beauty of their own to tie it right back up again. The overtime period was quick and exciting but unfortunately ended the wrong way. Tony DeAngelo appeared to have been tripped up by the LA net during a frenzy which turned into a successful odd man rush for the Kings. All in all it was a night where the Flyers got at least one point out of a game against a team with a better record than them.
