PHILADELPHIA – If the Flyers plan to make postseason play for a second straight season, they’re going to need Dan Vladar in goal as often as possible.
For the start of the regular season, that didn’t look too promising last Monday when the netminder was injured early in a preseason game at Hershey against the Washington Capitals.
The right arm problem could have jeopardized the chances of Vladar playing in Wednesday night’s regular season opener against Pittsburgh.
But some time off appears to have done the trick.
At the first intermission of Saturday’s preseason finale against the Washington Capitals (won by the visitors, 5-1), general manager Daniel Briere indicated Vladar “should be” ready for the Penguins game at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“Dan Vladar looks very promising,” Briere said. “He should be ready for game one. He probably could have played if we played a regular-season (game) tonight. We just want to play it safe. Let him get as close to a hundred percent for the start of the regular season.”
>Flyers finish preseason 1-3
The Flyers got off to a good start in Saturday’s game, taking a 1-0 lead before the Capitals scored three unanswered goals in the second period against goaltender Aleksei Kolosov.
Jamie Drysdale’s goal at the 29-second mark of the second period wound up being the only goal for the Flyers.
The Flyers sounded like they wanted to get this less-than-perfect effort out of the way before the real thing starts.
“We had a bunch of chances, we don’t score,” coach Rick Tocchet said after the game. “I’m actually glad we lost 5-1. A little humbling, which is good for us. We’re not as good as we need to be. Sometimes you’re not as good as you think you are.”
The players also shook it off as moreless a meaningless game. Their focus is on Wednesday.
“That wasn’t a great effort by us tonight,” said Owen Tippett. “I thought we let it get away from us. We definitely could have made it a little less ugly. But we’re super confident, coming off the year we had last year. Morale is high, we had a good camp and it’s great to be back with all the guys.”
Added Jamie Drysdale: “Ugly, that’s the only way to talk about that game. It was bad. But that’s ont how we’re going to play hockey. It’s not a winning brand, no matter how you chop it up. We’ll be better.”
Is it good to get a game like that out of the way now before they start to count?
“You never want a bad game,” Drysdale said. “But I guess if there was a time to do it, anyone with eyes could see that was pretty ugly hockey. We know we have a lot better.”
>Barkey could be out a bit longer
Denver Barkey, who was injured (lower body) in last Monday’s preseason game against Washington at Hershey, skated again on Saturday but did not play.
Briere said the recovery might take some more time. Right now he’s listed as possible for the Penguins.
“He’s going to miss a little bit of time,” Briere said. “It shouldn’t be too long. I don’t know if he’s going to be ready for the first game. But if not, it shouldn’t be long after that.”
Coach Rick Tocchet is hopeful the absence doesn’t last too long.
“He’s progressing every day,” Tocchet said. “He had a good skate yesterday and he hit the ice today, too. We’re hopeful for all our injured guys.”
>Michkov evaluation
Briere likes what Matvei Michkov has done this preseason.
“It’s good to see,” he said. “There’s still a long way to go. In training camp, the scrimmage, he looked very good in that and he looked very good in the first game he played. I thought he was moving well again today in the first period. So far so good. There’s encouraging signs with Matvei that he can come back to where we expected him to be.”
The Flyers were hoping Michkov would come into the season in better shape this year and so far that appears to be the case.
“We’re pleased with the work he put in this summer,” Briere said. “And the attitude he showed up with in training camp.”
>Thoughts on Jiricek
It’s fairly well known that defenseman David Jiricek can be a threat on offense. It’s his defense that might give cause for concern.
“I thought David played OK,” Briere said. “He’s going to be given a chance (for the No. 6 slot on defense). I thought he had a solid first period today. He’s going to start on the roster. It’s going to be up to him to show us that he deserves the minutes and stay in the lineup.”
The Flyers will give him a good look as point man on the power play.
“He has that weapon, the big shot,” Briere said. “It could be a difference-maker. We hope he uses it more, and forces himself into the lineup every night.”
Be the first to comment