Vladar’s return a welcome sight for Flyers

There was a collective sigh of relief on the Flyers’ bench at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday night prior to their game against the Blue Jackets.
Earlier in the day, No. 1 goaltender Dan Vladar was announced as the starting goaltender. Vladar was playing for the first time since suffering an injury in a game at Buffalo on Jan. 14.
Not that No. 2 Sam Ersson played all that badly in Vladar’s absence, especially during a recent three-game road trip. Ersson was a big part of wins over Vegas and Colorado, plus a point-producing overtime loss at Utah.
“He (Vladar) has been very consistent for us,” said coach Rick Tocchet at the Monday morning skate. “He’s a competitive guy. He adds a lot to our locker room, a goalie that likes to be involved with the players.”
Vladar entered the game with a record of 16-7-4, plus a 2.46 goals-against average (top 10 in NHL) and a .905 save percentage.
“Even just being positive with the guys,” Tocchet said in discussing Vladar’s leadership skills. “He’s going to add a lot to our room. Especially on the ice and off the ice.”
At the same time, Ersson might have earned himself a little more playing time with his recent performances.
“I think it depends on the schedule,” Tocchet said. “If you’re playing four (games) in six (nights), he (Ersson) is going to get his time. So it’s a schedule thing.
One other thing Tocchet did address in the pre-game locker room was the emotional dropoff after last Friday’s 7-3 win at Colorado. The Flyers came home and were shut out at home for the first time this season, 4-0, by the New York Islanders.
“We talked about it, that it was unacceptable,” Tocchet said. “There wasn’t a lot of support anywhere on the ice. We’re playing a tough team (Columbus) and we need support. We need to dig in in certain situations.”

>Barkey on a roll

Rookie Denver Barkey continues to come up big in a number of different situations. He seems to be developing some chemistry with Owen Tippett on the power play.
“I think him and ‘Tipp’ together have been pretty good,” Tocchet said. “They’re close to each other and that’s Barkey’s game.
“I thought Barkey was probably our best power play guy (vs. the Islanders). I thought he made some really nice plays out there. You can tell he’s got a high hockey IQ.”
Rookies tend to be a little on the quiet side but Barkey isn’t shy about speaking up when the situation calls for it.
“Nothing wrong with that,” Tocchet said. “I don’t think rookies are going to take that role right now but if you tell him something, he grasps it on the next shift. He takes the information very well.”
Having played on two Memorial Cup winners for the London Knights junior team certainly didn’t hurt his figuring things out at the NHL level.
“You can tell he was in a great program in London,” Tocchet said. “He’s one of those kids that has taken the information there, come to the NHL (and made it work).”