Vladar surprise starter in goal for Flyers’ opener

Back at the start of training camp, Flyers general manager Daniel Briere characterized the team’s goaltending situation as an “open competition.”
He wasn’t kidding around.
On Thursday afternoon, just prior to the team’s season opener against the Florida Panthers at Sunrise, Florida, Flyers coach Rick Tocchet startled more than a few people when he announced Dan Vladar would get the start in goal.
Last year’s No. 1 netminder Samuel Ersson is in good health and played fairly well in preseason competition.
But apparently the Flyers want to get a look at Vladar, who signed on with the team as a free agent back on July 1. Last season he made 30 appearances with the Calgary Flames and his contract with the Flyers is a two-year, $6.7-million deal.
“We decided to go with Vladar,” Tocchet said. “And we’ll go from there.”
Was the decision based on anything Ersson might have done wrong in the preseason?
“I think both had good camps,” Tocchet said. “I think ‘Vlady’ did a good job, so that’s who we decided to go with.”
There had also been suspense over whether Rodrigo Abols might be in the starting lineup. Tocchet liked what he saw of Abols in the preseason and played him in six of the seven games, so he got the nod.
“He can supply some offense, your fourth line can supply some offense,” Tocchet said. “He’s a responsible guy. He knows there are some things he has to get better at. We want to get him in early, see what he can do for us. Can he hold down that fourth line job? He’s a smart guy so I think he’s earned the opportunity to make the opening night.”

>Hopeful outlook for Couturier

The Flyers are hoping that Sean Couturier can return his game to the level it was before a pair of back surgeries. He showed some signs toward the end of last season.
“I think when he’s on his game he’s one of the better two-way centermen in the league,” Tocchet said. “He’s a 200-foot player. Is there offense there? Yeah. We want him to shoot the puck. Can he get around the net and get those dirty goals? Yeah. But he’s also a responsible guy.”
Couturier is the senior statesman on the team, having been with the Flyers since he was an 18-year-old in 2011. For him, the game never gets tiresome.
“It doesn’t get old,” he agreed. “Anxious to get going. We want to use all the systems we worked on in camp. Take that stuff and execute. It’s a great challenge going against a great opponent. It’s a great test for us to see where we are as a team.”