Flyers need better play from their special teams

PHILADELPHIA – One of the reasons the Flyers have struggled so much recently is that their special teams haven’t been too special.
Entering Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers, the Flyers’ power play had slipped all the way down to 32nd –- and last in the NHL — at a measly 15.0
The NHL average is 20.8 percent.
But perhaps the even more alarming number is the penalty kill. It started the season somewhere around the middle of the pack. As of 46 games, however, it had fallen to 23rd at 77.8 percent.
The Flyers looked better on the penalty kill vs. the Rangers but still gave up one power-play goal on three attempts.
Speaking at a pre-game press briefing at Xfinity Mobile Arena, coach Rick Tocchet talked about the issues facing his team outside the usual 5 x 5 stuff, especially the penalty kill.
The PK surrendered three goals in Thursday night’s 6-3 loss at Pittsburgh. It was the second half of a back-to-back, something the Flyers have had trouble with the past two seasons.
“Yeah, you have to look at the whole picture,” Tocchet said. “Special teams have been a problem, they’re biting us, especially right now. The PK has been leaking oil. Playing ‘Devo’ (Christian Dvorak) on the power play, PK. . .is there fatigue?”
It would help if the Flyers didn’t take so many penalties, too. Nineteen teams have been shorthanded fewer times than the Flyers’ 144 (entering Saturday action).
On the flip side, the Flyers have only 20 power-play goals, which is last in the league.
“There seems to be a little bit of nervousness,” Tocchet said. “If you look at the last game (at Pittsburgh), we had three chances at the top of the slot. I think we had two blocked. That’s execution. These are the things we’re not getting right now.”
Positional discipline might be at the root of the penalty kill’s decline.
Tocchet said he wants players to check with both hands on their sticks. The one-handed stuff has limited chance for success.
The kill units need to maintain structure, too. And get better netminding.
“Do we need a save here and there?,” Tocchet said. “Goaltending has just been OK the last four or five games.”

>Konecny’s reaction

After the game against the Rangers, Travis Konecny gave his thoughts on what has been going wrong of late.
“We have to understand there are going to be lows like this,” he said. “There’s plenty of time to turn it around.”
Konecny is now in his ninth year in the NHL and as one of the team’s alternate captains, will speak up when he feels it’s necessary.
Right about now might be one of those times. The Flyers went into this five-game losing streak having never lost more than two games in a row all year.
“I thought the effort was there,” he said. “We all put in the time in practice. Things go the other way, the bounces and then we get frustrated. It’s been like a weird, frustrating two weeks.”

>Vladar update

Goaltender Dan Vladar, injured in the Buffalo game on Wednesday, is listed as day-to-day, according to Tocchet.
“At this point I would say day-to-day,” Tocchet said. “It depends on how he feels after therapy – after 24 hours, whether you get better or not, what percentage. So it’s hard to pinpoint exactly.”

>Injuries status

Bobby Brink did not play on Saturday but is a possibility for somewhere along the road trip through Vegas, Utah and Colorado.
Tocchet reported Brink skated on Saturday morning. If doctors don’t clear him, there’s a chance he won’t play until the Colorado game on Friday.
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has been sidelined and will not be making the trip.
“I don’t think it’s a long-term injury,” Tocchet said. “Is it a week thing? Maybe.”

>Michkov-Barkey connection

Tocchet put rookie Denver Barkey on a line with Matvei Michkov for the Pittsburgh game and both players seemed to respond. Michkov actually connected for his 10th goal of the season.
“They seemed to have a little fun playing with each other,” Tocchet said. “There was a little bit of pep in their step. For them it’s being close together. A little chemistry, finding each other. I want them to have some fun and make some plays.”