The Flyers fall to the Caps, but Wade Allison was the Energizer Bunny that kept “Going, and going, and going”

Photo Credit: Our very own Jill Rice

Last night’s game was anything but blissful for the Flyers and they’re proud fans. Actually, the first period saw the orange and black play some solid hockey, but things unraveled from there it appeared in the 3-1 loss.

It’s only the Pre-Season and most people were expecting some quirks the Flyers have to work out, especially in a new system like John Tortorella’s. However, last night reminded me of the 2021-22 season at times in a bad way, and that’s not a good thing. Not every loss will be that bad, but this one was. I was expecting more since the Flyers had a more Veteran lineup than the Washington Capitals.

Tortorella has been relentless with skating and conditioning, if one paid attention through all three periods last night you saw some of his systems at the forefront. In the first period you saw an active stick breaking up plays from Rasmus Ristolainen, you saw Tony DeAngelo make quick outlet passes in their own zone for quick zone exits that led the play up the ice. One saw, wait, Wade Allison as the Energizer Bunny as he kept “Going and going and going,” all he lacked was the finish. Lastly, one saw Ivan Provorov make quick and decisive decisions with the puck.

Unfortunately, the second period is when things began to unravel, it appeared at times the Flyers were lifeless. They started to glide again, at times it appeared that some of the players were disinterested after surrendering the first goal. It was a fluke goal, a bouncing puck that made its way in between Provorov and Olle Lycksell, to which the puck landed to Connor Brown, who fired the shot for the goal that Felix Sandström never saw.

Brad Shaw was brought in as the Defense/PK coach, who possesses an aggressive style penalty killing unit. For his efforts, the Flyers entered the game 9-9 on the penalty kill in the Pre-Season, however, last night it appeared on the Washington Capitals first power play that they missed a man and were more keen with shot blocking, as Dylan Strome rifled the puck past Sandström for the 2-0 lead with a man laid out on the ice flying by. Just like that when the Flyers allowed the first goal, the wheels on the bus started to fall off just like the 2021-22 season. When things went sour, so did the Flyers, but they did manage to block 26 shots through two periods.

It’s how the Flyers lost the second period that’s worrisome. They were just disengaged, and that’s not supposed to happen under Torts. Wade Allison was fantastic, and finally was able to get the Flyers on the board in the third period. Allison checked a Capital along the boards, to which Owen Tippett found the puck and fed a cutting Kevin Hayes for the goal to bring the Flyers within one at 2-1.

Allison continued his strong play, and had multiple scoring chances in the third period. The Flyers tried to claw their way back. Unfortunately, they were hemmed in their own zone a lot, but Samuel Ersson was very strong in net. At one point he saved 10 shots out of 10 shots faced, until there was a bad turnover by Scott Laughton, which led to a 2-on-0 and left Ersson praying for dear life. Laughton tried to get back into the play to offset the 2-0, but that just led to him flying on the ice. Of course, Strome scored to put the Caps up 3-1.

Torts’s system requires a well conditioned team. The motors are non-stop if everyone gives full effort. At times in the second and third periods in particular last night it appeared the Flyers gave up, most notably in the second period. It appeared they accepted their fate which made it reminiscent of the 2021-22 season, with the exception for Allison and Lycksell. With the Flyers having off today, expect a lot of roster cuts, ahead of Saturday’s Pre-Season tilt against the Boston Bruins. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms open their Training Camp on Sunday, so this is a good day to perform some of these cuts.

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