Saturday afternoon’s Flyers-Devils game marked the end of the preseason schedule. Philadelphia finished the seven-game slate with a 3-4 mark after a 4-3 shootout win over the New Jersey team at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Flyers used this game to help figure out a few remaining roster spots. Both Jett Luchanko and Rodrigo Abols are vying to make the team heading into Thursday night’s regular season opener at Florida. They played on a fourth line with Garnet Hathaway.
A goal by the Devils’ Paul Cotter at 11:31 of the third period broke a 2-2 deadlock. But the Flyers bounced back on a goal from Travis Konecny with 1:53 to play and the Philadelphia net empty.
In the shootout, the Flyers picked up goals from Konecny and Trevor Zegras for a 2-0 edge.
For coach Rick Tocchet, there were a lot of positive developments to come out of this last preseason game.
The coach saw his team try to stay competitive in each game of the preseason.
“The one thing about this team, they love to be coached,” he said in the postgame press conference. “Everyone needs to buy in and that’s what I see right now. We have a lot of work to do to clean up a lot of things. We knew that going into training camp.”
Each team scored in the second period, which ended in a 2-2 tie.
The Devils took advantage of a penalty to the Flyers’ Matvei Michkov to score a power-play goal just 40 seconds into the period. Lenni Hameenaho did the honors from short range.
Konecny responded for the Flyers at 7:47, finishing off a shot from a scramble in front with Michkov picking up the primary assist.
That power-play goal gave Tocchet encouragement that the team is headed in the right direction in that department, especially given the last few dreadful seasons.
“The other game it wasn’t a great power play so we spent some time on it,” Tocchet said. “They got coached, they applied it. Hopefully that gives them confidence. That’s encouraging.”
Defenseman Travis Sanheim’s third goal of the preseason evened the score at 1-1 at 18:16 of the first period.
Sanheim slipped through an opening and beat goaltender Jake Allen with a rising shot from close range. That offset a goal from the Devils’ Kevin Rooney, who tipped Ethan Edwards’ long shot past goaltender Dan Vladar.>Tocchet’s takes
Prior to the game, Tocchet spoke about several players who are still competing for roster spot, including Luchanko and Abols, who were paired on the fourth line.
As for the fourth line’s role this season, Tocchet is looking for a solid combination of defense and some offense.
“To me, it’s the predictability they get on the forecheck and supply offense,” Tocchet said.
Both Luchanko and Abols give the impression they are willing to play anywhere in order to make this team.
Luchanko made a nice play on the Sanheim goal.
“They did a nice job of getting the puck to me in an open spot,” Luchanko said. As for fourth line duty, he added: “I think whatever the role is I’m happy and willing to play.”
Abols played in six of the seven preseason games but sounds like he came out of it the better for wear.
“I think I was pretty solid,” he said. “Couple games probably not as good as I want to. I know the things I need to work on.
“Coach Tocchet has to feel comfortable that he can put me out there and know there’s not going to be any high-danger chances against me. If there are chances on offense, great, that’s a bonus.”
Overall, he the coach wants to cut down on the number of odd-man rushes against all four of his lines.
“We have to get to our game, we’re still trying to build our game,” he said. “It’s the two-on-0, the two-on-one rushes that we have to clean up. That’s my job.”
Tocchet likes Luchanko’s versatility.
“He’s a big guy (6-foot-0, 190 pounds) a mix, he can play wing or center,” Tocchet said. “That’s good for a coach. We’ll see how that works out.”
The coach added he’s looking for Luchanko to “use his speed, start to shoot the puck more. . .get good chances with the puck offensively.”
>Short shots
Noah Juulson was paired with Adam Ginning on the third defense tandem for the Flyers. “I felt pretty good today,” Juulson said. “I think as a group we were decent. Starting to do the right things that the coach wants us to do. Certainly coming together a bit.”
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