Tocchet still has a place in his heart for Canucks

PHILADELPHIA – The first game against your old team is usually the most emotional.
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet tried not to make a big deal out of facing his former club, the Vancouver Canucks, on Monday night at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Still, he knows quite a few of the players who competed for him as recently as this past April, so his pulse had to be going a little faster.
The Canucks haven’t done well since Tocchet left. Heading into the game against the Flyers, Vancouver was tied for next-to-last in the Western Conference and 30th overall in the complete NHL standings.
Recently, though, the Canucks had won four straight and were playing much better defensively.
“That team is starting to find their way,” Tocchet said at the morning skate at XMA. “We have to be ready to play this team tonight.”
The recent trade of All-Star defenseman Quinn Hughes obviously caught Tocchet’s attention. Hughes’ contract is set to run out and the Canucks needed some young players to fill some holes as they look to the future.
Tocchet mentioned some of the players that he continues to have an interest in, including defensemen Filip Hronek and Tyler Myers.
“Still have a relationship with those guys,” Tocchet said. “Great hockey players. I know what they do. They’re always ready to play. There is some turnover but some of their young guys have played well for them.”
Two seasons ago, Tocchet won the Jack Adams Trophy for the NHL’s best coach after Vancouver won 50 games and its first Pacific Division title.

>Back-to-back issues

On Tuesday night the Flyers head to Chicago for another tail end of a back-to-back. They are 1-2-1 so far this year. Going back to last season, they are just 2-12-2 in the second half of these situations.
“Every team goes through it,” Tocchet said. “The really good teams, you have to play tired and you’ve got to play with your brain. Good angles, play a team game. I tell the guys, don’t even use the word tired.”

>Enough questions about Michkov already

After fielding about a half-dozen questions about Matvei Michkov’s recent struggles on offense, an exasperated Tocchet finally said enough was enough.
“Any guys who want to score get frustrated,” Tocchet said. “But you can’t let it affect your overall game. You have to continue to go to the spots. Keep going to the net, keep going to that slot area.”
Prior to Monday night, Michkov had connected for only eight goals in 34 games and led the team in penalty minutes with 34.
“Keep going to that slot area when we already have two guys down low,” Tocchet explained. “Like don’t go behind the net. Things like that you just have to stay with it because he will still get those chances.
“He had some chances against the Rangers (on Saturday). He had two halves of breakaways. Now he’s got to play a little faster and separate himself. You can’t get frustrated, you got to keep working.”
When media types persisted, Tocchet put his foot down.
“What, we’re 17-10, we’ve got a good record, I’ve answered six Michkov questions,” the coach said. “Enough is enough guys. You’re trying to make something out of nothing. He’s got to learn to play the game and he’s trying.”

>Ristolainen impressive after long break

Tocchet gave defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen high marks for his play in the three games he’s been back after missing nine months.
“When you have a big defenseman who can move his feet, he’s physical and has a good stick,” Tocchet said. “And he’s got a great shot. (Now) It’s just about game conditioning.”