KODAK Digital Still Camera
Photo Credit: Our very own Rob Windfelder
It’s no secret the Flyers have been struggling, after getting off to a 2-6-1 start through the first nine games of the season. They have many inconsistencies, from playing good team defense as a unit, to inconsistent goal tenning, to inconsistent scoring.
Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella sounded off on the early struggles to start the season, “We’re just not in fives. You need to play up the ice in five. It not only helps you defensively, but it helps you offensively. We are just not playing in fives, and is something we will have to continue to work at,” said Tortorella following Sunday night’s game.
Tortorella continues, “Everyone is frustrated because they want to win, but I don’t think it’s a frustration that’s overtaking our team. We have so many guys who are struggling offensively, That it’s tough to generate and it goes back to playing in fives. We just have to continue to work at our structure and it’s not just offensively. It’s coming out of your own end zone. It’s how we arrive in our own end zone defensively. That’s what gets you to play in fives.”
The Flyers just look flat, until the last 10 or so minutes of the game. That’s how it’s been recently, and the Flyers have shown resiliency towards the latter parts of the game, however, falling behind game after game will do the orange and blac no justice. Honestly, this club hasn’t played a good full 60 minutes since opening night against the Vancouver Canucks, or one can make a case for the third game against the Edmonton Oilers.
At times the team is trying to be too cute to score, asides from Matvei Michkov. Michkov looks to create and make a play every time he touches the puck, that’s why I can live with a turnover or two from him. Hopefully, The rest of the team is paying attention, and will follow suits at some point.
“I think you can see from last year we just had that flow from our own zone,” Garnet Hathaway said following something night’s loss. “I think it was guys playing roles, identities, and understanding how that worked together. I think the disconnection comes when you’re trying to create something instantly. You want something to work right away.”
Hathaway continues, “I would look into our system as a unit. It’s doing your job. It’s the Bill Belichick, all the time.”
Now since Tortorella and the team have identified some major issues within their system. Hopefully, this team can find a much needed victory on the road against the Boston Bruins tonight. The Bruins have also struggled here and early going, so this is a beatable team. They just have to keep it simple, and play their system the right way.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
I really enjoyed reading this—very insightful!