Finding line chemistry on any hockey team can be a tricky business.
So far, the Flyers appear to have created three steady, successful units in just a couple weeks.
The one which might be the most surprising consists of Christian Dvorak, Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov.
Perhaps the No. 1 unexpected aspect of this new trio is that last year all three players competed on different teams.
Zegras skated with the Anaheim Ducks, Dvorak was on the Montreal Canadiens and Michkov, of course, got off to a brilliant start as a rookie on the Flyers.
Coaches will tell you it’s pretty cool when two players such as Zegras and Dvorak are interchangeable at center and wing. There are times when they can actually shift in the middle of a shift.
While Zegras entered Thursday night’s game at Ottawa without a goal yet, he had tied for a team-leading five assists and was a plus-3.
One of the keys so far is a good communication with coach Rick Tocchet. There’s a lot of video to review and players demonstrate they’re paying attention by asking a lot of questions.
“He (Tocchet) is a great resource,” Zegras said in a recorded interview after the morning skate at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. “We do a lot of video. He’s someone that a lot of us can learn a lot from.”
Zegras likes the way the entire team has quickly formed some cohesive units.
“There’s a good energy with the group,” Zegras said. “We have a lot of belief in each other. A lot of the guys hang out together, go to dinner. Just keep the vibe going.”
>Fast start for Couturier
Couturier also had picked up five assists in his first six games and he’s off to his best start since 2019-20.
No doubt skating with a couple of snipers like Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny will only enhance Couturier’s playmaking skills.
“I really feel good on the ice, I feel healthy,” Couturier said. “I have my legs early in the year. I think my offseason training has paid off. It’s fun to be getting results early.
“As a line, we’re still trying to build some chemistry, doing more offensively. (Personally) It’s one of those stretches where the puck just seems to find you, finds the back of the net.”
It’s been a bit surprising that the Flyers have adapted to Tocchet’s systems and game plan so quickly.
“There’s a learning process that we’re still trying to get familiar with the new systems,” Couturier said. “It’s a building process. We can build off these last couple games. The important thing is to keep getting better. Keep learning the systems and make it come natural in our game.”
>Abols back in
Tocchet decided to go back to Rodrigo Abols for his fourth-line center on Thursday night. Jett Luchanko returned to the bench.
Abols, who’s been in and out of the lineup, has had some previous playing time with his left wing, Nikita Grebenkin, so that works in his favor.
“I think there’s a lot there to like about Abols,” Tocchet said. “I think he’s a smart guy. He holds onto pucks, which is great. Just push the pace a little bit.
“I’m sensitive to when you pull people in and out. It’s hard. But when there is some chemistry (like with Grebenkin), he’s a good forechecker, that’s good.”
>Praise for Brink’s play
The Noah Cates-Bobby Brink-Tyson Foerster line continues to set the pace for the Flyers in the early going.
Brink is the Energizer Bunny on this crew. His forechecking is second to none.
“I think Bobby is a guy, I think he’s a darter,” Tocchet said. “He darts in and out. For a little guy, he comes up with loose pucks. He moves his feet. That’s why the smaller guys in the league who play well, like (former Tampa Bay star) Marty St. Louis, he comes out of the corner with pucks. I think Bobby is that way. He comes out of the corner, darts with the puck. I think that’s what he supplies that line.”
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