PHILADELPHIA – It took six games but there’s a new odds-on favorite to see a majority of the workload in the Flyers’ net.
At least for the near future.
Coach Rick Tocchet had been rotating Dan Vladar and Sam Ersson in goal for the first five games but on Monday night vs. Seattle he went with Vladar for a second straight game.
The coach said nothing is set in stone yet as far as who gets the majority of the starts in the near future. Tocchet might start staying with a particular goalie if he begins to get a hot hand.
“He (Vladar) has played really well,” Tocchet said after Monday morning’s skate at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. “Now you’re in a situation where you start putting some games together. He probably deserves to be in the net.”
Is it possible Vladar could take over the No. 1 spot as the season goes along? After all, when the season began, many thought Ersson would get the majority of the starts this season.
“He (Vladar) deserves to go in the net,” Tocchet said. “I’m not sure what you can read into it, it (at some point) could be flip-flopped the other way.”
In his first three starts, Vladar went 2-1 with a 1.65 goals-against average (fourth in the NHL) and .934 save percentage (eighth in the NHL).
>Zeroing in on the net
There are times when the Flyers forwards are satisfied with taking perimeter shots. Tocchet wants them to position themselves closer to the net.
“There’s a lot of stuff we can correct,” the coach said. “The one thing I like is we’re getting a lot of good motion. I’m not sure we’re getting to the interior. To me, it’s clear as day on the video.”
It’s a matter of knowing when to press forward and when not to.
“We need some guys to dedicate getting inside,” Tocchet said. “I think if you’re a guy that’s struggling, then look to get inside a little bit more. We have to get some more shots on net.”
The stats bear that out. In their first five games, the Flyers have averaged just a fraction over 20 shots per game and going into the Seattle game, their high for the season was 23.
>Tippett to the rescue
Regardless of which line Owen Tippett has played with, he seems to come through with timely goals. After five games he led the team with three.
“Whatever line I’ve put him on, he’s really helped that line,” Tocchet said. “He’s really driving.”
Tocchet likes the way the right wing thinks the game.
“He’s a real intelligent guy,” Tocchet said. “We spent a lot of time this year (on video). Off the rush he’s excellent. At the net front, he can stay there a little bit more. But that will come.”
The coach goes along with the idea that a change at the top has helped Tippett put last year’s disappointing 20-goal performance in the rearview mirror.
“He’s one of those guys since the new crew got in here, he’s been really attentive,” Tocchet said. “I noticed that in camp.
“When you tell him something, he hangs around. He’s been asking a lot of questions. I think he’s emotionally invested in the team this year.”
>Selective shooting
Getting back to those low shot counts, individual players on the Flyers aren’t putting a whole lot of pucks on net.
Through five games, Tippett led the roster with just 14 shots and no one else had more than 11.
“It’s been weird,” said Tyson Foerster, one of those players with 11. “Looking at the scoreboard and it’s like 4-3 (for shots) going into the second period. It’s a credit to the defense in the league.”
>Luchanko, Grebenkin back in
After sitting out the Minnesota game, Jett Luchanko and Nikita Grebenkin returned to the lineup against the Kraken. Nick Deslauriers and Rodrigo Abols had the night off.
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