RALEIGH, N.C. – Back in the first two games of the Pittsburgh series at PPG Paints Arena, the Flyers made winning on the road look easy.
They even shut out Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in Game 2 on the way to a six-game victory.
The Flyers knew their series against the Hurricanes wouldn’t be quite as easy and that was apparent in a series-opening 3-0 loss on Saturday night at Lenovo Center.
At Sunday’s skate, Tocchet said there will be some adjustments for Monday night’s Game 2.
“Maybe change the lines a bit,” he said. Starting Denver Barkey at center might be one of those.
A slow start is what cost the Flyers any chance of success in Game 1.
“To me it was the first 15 minutes where we didn’t look like a lot of the guys wanted the puck,” Tocchet said. “Against Carolina you’re going to have to want the puck, want confrontation. You’re going to want to make that play. Those are the things we didn’t do early on. Tomorrow night we want 20 guys wanting the puck.”
Tocchet wants his players to make the little plays before going for the game-changers.
“We have to hit singles every shift,” he said. “Can’t try to hit home runs. I just felt a lot of guys were either all in on the home run or not skating. We learned from it and we’re moving on.”
The coach doesn’t just want his players to survive Carolina’s forechecking pressure, he wants them to be proactive.
“I’m a big believer in meeting pressure with pressure,” he said. “Wherever that pressure is, go find it. We were going away from it. That’s something we have to learn from.”
After the skate, defenseman Cam York discussed what the Flyers have to do better on Monday night. While the Penguins played a more deliberate style, the Hurricanes come at you with all-out speed. They’re daring you to make a mistake.
“If you’re just standing still,” York said, “they’re too quick, they’re too on top of you. You’re not going to have time and space. . .time to make plays, to get the puck out of our zone.”
Having seen Carolina in playoff mode, the Flyers now know what to expect.
“We got a good taste of it,” York said. “When you play the same team (Pittsburgh) six times in a row and then two days later play a team that plays completely different, there are going to be adjustments that you have to make in your game.
“I think that first game was good for our team to get a taste of it and now we know what we’re up against.”
>Tippett skates, availability unknown
Owen Tippett, who missed Game 1 with injuries, skated on Sunday afternoon but his status for Game 2 is unknown.
His absence was felt in the opening match.
“ ‘Tip’ is one of those guys who can get a breakaway,” Tocchet said. “Or get a two-on-one. So when he’s out of the lineup, it’s tough.”
Tippett led the Flyers in goals this season with 28, tying a career high.
He’s still listed as day-to-day, which means he can’t discuss his status with the media.
>The hit parade
The Flyers had 44 hits in Game 1, which was a considerable margin over Carolina (29). Philadelphia wants to play physical but concentrating on body contact doesn’t always guarantee success.
At the same time, Tocchet said the Flyers need to hit back when challenged.
“They had a couple big hits on us,” Tocchet said. “We have to take some numbers. Hopefully we can do that earlier in the game. But every hit that happens, it’s not just that moment, it can affect the series.
“One of those hits can knock a guy out. It can make a guy tired. There are a lot of different factors. It’s hard to do but that can help not only in the moment, but the series.”
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