Every hockey team goes through it.
Trying to find the right chemistry for each of its four lines. There isn’t a whole lot of time to think out there. Knowing where a linemate is going to be often requires split-second decision making.
That could be why the Flyers spent so many games – 26 heading into this weekend – trying to find that often overused word: Chemistry.
A recent three-game winning streak and a 10-game record of 7-2-1 (tied for best in the Metropolitan Division with Washington) might have shown coach John Tortorella that it could be time to stick with some current configurations.
The real keeper could be having right wing Matvei Michkov on the same line with Owen Tippett along with Morgan Frost at center.
All Tippett did in a 7-5 loss to Florida on Thursday night was score goals just 23 seconds apart late in the second period to tie the score at 4-all.
Michkov chipped in with three assists for the game, just one off the team record for rookie forwards.
The 19-year-old Michkov also seems to have formed a bond with Travis Konecny on the power play. But for five-on-five play, Konecny has a special connection with veteran center Sean Couturier which goes back years.
The other two units seem to be working together in rhythm as well.
Center Noah Cates has been on the same page with left wing Tyson Foerster, who scored his sixth goal of the season against Florida. Tossing right wing Bobby Brink into the mix and you have a trio which averages just about 23 years of age.
And a fourth line, which on most teams is usually known for checking and adding to the penalty-kill unit, has been a bit of a revelation for the Flyers. The line of Ryan Poehling-Scott Laughton-Garnet Hathaway has already produced seven goals while contributing to a PK which continues to rank third-best in the NHL at around 85 percent.
Back to Michkov for a moment. While it’s clear he’s a scoring threat every time he steps on the ice, in the long run his ability to set up other players might be the most lasting contribution for what promises to be a stellar career.
“They (Michkov, Tippett) are special players,” Hathaway said after the Florida game (in which the Flyers trailed by a 3-0 score at one point). “They got us back in the game in one shift. It’s awesome. I see the craft they work at every single day. It’s not a mistake that they’re successful on the ice. They do it behind the scenes all the time.”
Tippett needed a game like the one he had against the Panthers. After seasons of 28 and 29 goals, he had only four in 23 games this season before the outburst.
“We’ve played together for awhile now,” Tippett said. “And at the start of the year. I think we’ve built some chemistry.”
Numerous Flyers have spoken about how Michkov has made a concerted effort to fit into this team, both on and off the ice. Don’t think that work has gone unnoticed in the coaches’ office.
“You have to give credit to him (Michkov),” Tippett said. “He’s come over and I think early in the year there was the language barrier and understanding things. But he’s changed his game. I think a lot of the credit goes to him and the way he carries himself. The way he listens to the guys in the room.
“He takes in all feedback and all suggestions. I think he’s understanding it more and he knows us better now. I think he deserves credit to just be able to absorb all that information at once.”
Incidentally, since they first took to the ice in the fall of 1967, the Flyers have never had a rookie of the year.
They’ve come close, twice. In 1973, Bill Barber took runnerup to the New York Rangers’ Steve Vickers. In 1987, goaltender Ron Hextall finished second to Los Angeles Kings’ Luc Robitaille.
Maybe this is the year that dubious streak comes to an end.
If, indeed, this Michkov-Tippett pairing turns out to be a keeper, it could benefit the careers of both players.
They were saying the same thing about a couple early 20-somethings a generation or two ago.
Their names were Clarke and Barber.
Trying to find the right chemistry for each of its four lines. There isn’t a whole lot of time to think out there. Knowing where a linemate is going to be often requires split-second decision making.
That could be why the Flyers spent so many games – 26 heading into this weekend – trying to find that often overused word: Chemistry.
A recent three-game winning streak and a 10-game record of 7-2-1 (tied for best in the Metropolitan Division with Washington) might have shown coach John Tortorella that it could be time to stick with some current configurations.
The real keeper could be having right wing Matvei Michkov on the same line with Owen Tippett along with Morgan Frost at center.
All Tippett did in a 7-5 loss to Florida on Thursday night was score goals just 23 seconds apart late in the second period to tie the score at 4-all.
Michkov chipped in with three assists for the game, just one off the team record for rookie forwards.
The 19-year-old Michkov also seems to have formed a bond with Travis Konecny on the power play. But for five-on-five play, Konecny has a special connection with veteran center Sean Couturier which goes back years.
The other two units seem to be working together in rhythm as well.
Center Noah Cates has been on the same page with left wing Tyson Foerster, who scored his sixth goal of the season against Florida. Tossing right wing Bobby Brink into the mix and you have a trio which averages just about 23 years of age.
And a fourth line, which on most teams is usually known for checking and adding to the penalty-kill unit, has been a bit of a revelation for the Flyers. The line of Ryan Poehling-Scott Laughton-Garnet Hathaway has already produced seven goals while contributing to a PK which continues to rank third-best in the NHL at around 85 percent.
Back to Michkov for a moment. While it’s clear he’s a scoring threat every time he steps on the ice, in the long run his ability to set up other players might be the most lasting contribution for what promises to be a stellar career.
“They (Michkov, Tippett) are special players,” Hathaway said after the Florida game (in which the Flyers trailed by a 3-0 score at one point). “They got us back in the game in one shift. It’s awesome. I see the craft they work at every single day. It’s not a mistake that they’re successful on the ice. They do it behind the scenes all the time.”
Tippett needed a game like the one he had against the Panthers. After seasons of 28 and 29 goals, he had only four in 23 games this season before the outburst.
“We’ve played together for awhile now,” Tippett said. “And at the start of the year. I think we’ve built some chemistry.”
Numerous Flyers have spoken about how Michkov has made a concerted effort to fit into this team, both on and off the ice. Don’t think that work has gone unnoticed in the coaches’ office.
“You have to give credit to him (Michkov),” Tippett said. “He’s come over and I think early in the year there was the language barrier and understanding things. But he’s changed his game. I think a lot of the credit goes to him and the way he carries himself. The way he listens to the guys in the room.
“He takes in all feedback and all suggestions. I think he’s understanding it more and he knows us better now. I think he deserves credit to just be able to absorb all that information at once.”
Incidentally, since they first took to the ice in the fall of 1967, the Flyers have never had a rookie of the year.
They’ve come close, twice. In 1973, Bill Barber took runnerup to the New York Rangers’ Steve Vickers. In 1987, goaltender Ron Hextall finished second to Los Angeles Kings’ Luc Robitaille.
Maybe this is the year that dubious streak comes to an end.
If, indeed, this Michkov-Tippett pairing turns out to be a keeper, it could benefit the careers of both players.
They were saying the same thing about a couple early 20-somethings a generation or two ago.
Their names were Clarke and Barber.
