Photo Credit: Frankie Steskal
The Flyers knew heading into the 2021-22 season the Flyers had to improve their special teams. I have blasted the Flyers over the course of last for their horrendous power play and penalty kill. For once, that can be placed in the past, as the special teams for the orange and black is a strength early in the season. Yes you read that right, a strength.
Under Assistant Coach Mike Yeo, the penalty killing took a major step back last season garnering a 73.1% success rate that was good for 30th in the NHL. Moreover, the Flyers also allowed six short-handed goals to the Flyers two for. This was unacceptable for a team that was so talented on paper.
Chuck Fletcher made bold decisions to improve the struggling power play that sat 17th best in the NHL this past season with a 19.1% success rate, and the struggling penalty killing unit as mentioned above. Fletcher traded for Rasmus Ristolainen and signed Keith Yandle, to which both will help the once struggling power play unit, “I think he (Keith Yandle) perfectly complements our existing D corps,” Fletcher said a few months ago, “A left shot was something we felt we needed. Somebody to help with the powerplay. Keith is very good at moving the puck up the ice. He’s got a lot of experience. Look, neither one of our special teams were great last year. We think we’ve added some things to help the PK. I think Keith in particular is somebody that can help quarterback the power play and bring another option for our coaches for the power play. I think we have several defensemen that can play on the power play. Keith has a pretty good skill set.”
Head Coach Alain Vigneault is never completely satisfied and that’s partially the reason he returns this year as head coach. Especially, after the Flyers Penalty Killing Unit was terrible last season, to which the goaltending was also subpar. Vigneault was in the meetings with Fletcher, to which Fletcher indicated that losing Nate Thompson, Tyler Pitlick, and Derek Grant last offseason really hurt the club. So-much-so, Fletcher re-signed Thompson, and added Cam Atkinson. Included in big additions is Ryan Ellis. Ellis, Thompson, and Atkinson are extremely good penalty killers, and they have improved this team tremendously short-handed. For their efforts, they have killed off 13 of 17 penalties taken, which is good enough for a 81.3% success rate.
“Cam Atkinson is what we call a hockey player, and he just loves to play the game of hockey. Tremendous energy. You probably heard that in his press conference today. He’s a player that really can contribute every which way. I think he’s been one of the better five-on-five goal scorers in the league over seven, eight years. He drives play. He’s an elite penalty killer. I think he’s second to Brad Marchand in shorthanded goals going back to 2014. He’s been a really good scorer during the playoffs. There’s really not much he can’t do. For a guy that isn’t that tall, he’s tenacious.” – Chuck Fletcher
Atkinson has tallied 13 short-handed goals dating back to the 2016-17 season, which is the third most in the NHL since 2011-12. The Flyers not only have a successful penalty killing units on, but they are a threat again while short-handed. The Flyers needed a breath of fresh air, new leadership, and players that can get the job done with special teams. Fletcher said at his exit interviews that he would also try to improve the power play and penalty killing units this offseason, well he has done that. Keith Yandle is a massive improvement while quarterbacking the teams first power play unit, as he has tallied two assists with the man advantage in just four games played, while Derick Brassard, Cam Atkinson, and Joel Farabee seem to have that second power play unit rocking.
What will happen tonight against the Edmonton Oilers is anyone’s guess, but the key to victory tonight is stay out of the box. The Oilers can score at will, so the Flyers have to stay out of the box, and take advantage of their opportunities tonight.
