PHILADELPHIA – All players have pre-game routines but they’re susceptible to change at the drop of a hat.
The trick is to stay with it, regardless of the circumstances.
Just ask Flyers coach Rick Tocchet, who will tell you all about how he prepared for big games, like Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Final against the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers.
“Just because a moment is so big, don’t change things,” Tocchet said in a media briefing before Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. “Like, all of a sudden I don’t want to talk to anybody. I think you just have to stay with a routine.”
Players can be superstitious but they have to trust their instincts.
“It’s no different when you’re on a breakout,” Tocchet said. “And if the (forward) is open, give it to him. Sometimes when the moment is so big, you have to have the confidence to make that play. Just because the moment is there, don’t defer.
“If there’s a chance to make a play, make it.”
>Ersson gets the start
Tocchet decided to go with backup goaltender Sam Ersson for Thursday’s game against Chicago. With the Flyers playing a back-to-back this weekend (at Detroit on Saturday, home vs. Dallas on Sunday), that probably means Ersson will get the Stars game, too. Dan Vladar likely will play against the Red Wings.
>All lines going
The Flyers are in the midst of a demanding stretch in their already challenging schedule, with six games in nine days. That means all four lines have to be going to share the ice time burden.
“Be aggressive, be in the right spots,” Tocchet said. “We’ve got to use the bench, hopefully all four lines. (Sean) Couturier’s line was good the other night, we need others to step up.”
>Grebenkin out seven-10 days
The Flyers announced Nikita Grebenkin will miss approximately 10 days due to injury. Also, defenseman Noah Juulson has been slowed by injury and was replaced for the Chicago game by Emil Andrae.
>Some unexpected offense
So which Flyer player has led the team in goal scoring on home ice over the past eight weeks?
If you guessed Jamie Drysdale, you’ve been paying attention.
Drysdale has turned on the red light five times since late January, resulting in a new career high for goals in a season (eight).
Some of the credit goes to his improved performance on the team’s power play, which, by the way, hasn’t been setting the league on fire.
Since Feb. 3, Drysdale’s give goals are tied for third-most by an NHL defenseman.
>Solving the home-ice puzzle
Going into Thursday night’s game, the Flyers had won only 15 of 35 games at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Tocchet said the issue of better play at XMA has been discussed.
“I don’t know, are they trying to put a show on?” Tocchet said. “We’re trying to pass instead of shoot. We have to play more greasy at home. We have to get guys to the net more but it has to be natural.”
>Zegras moving up list
Trevor Zegras is enjoying a big first season with the Flyers and he’s now among the top half-dozen alltime leaders for points through the first 70 games in that statistic.
Going into Thursday night’s game against Chicago, Zegras had 56 points through the first 70 games.
Peter Forsberg tops the list with 84 points, followed by Jeremy Roenick, 64; Daniel Briere, 61; Keith Primeau, 61 and Mike Knuble, 58.
>Couturier consistent
Couturier reached the 30-point mark for the 11th time in his career the other night.
That puts him fourth on the Flyers’ alltime list in that category behind only Bob Clarke, 15; Claude Giroux, 13; and Bill Barber, 12.
>Free agent signed
The Flyers have signed forward Riley Thompson to a one-year entry-level contract beginning with the 2026-27 season, according to GM Daniel Briere. Thompson will report to the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, on a professional tryout. Thompson, 23, is an undrafted left-handed forward who recently completed his third collegiate season at the Ohio State University.
Be the first to comment