PHILADELPHIA – When the shot totals aren’t going your way, there’s one tried and proven formula for changing that.
Increase your time with the puck.
That’s what the Flyers were talking about as they approached Saturday’s game with Carolina.
“We just have to keep puck possession,” coach Rick Tocchet said at Saturday morning’s pre-game skate. “I thought in the third period (vs. the Devils on Thursday) we were better. Some guys were able to hold onto pucks and make a play.
“And moving your feet. Everybody’s kind of waiting to see what’s going to happen. It happens with the young guys. We need more practice time but we don’t have (enough). So it’s on the job training.”
Tocchet surprised some people by going back to goaltender Joseph Woll for the start against the Hurricanes.
Actually, the move made sense because Woll played well in a 3-2 overtime loss to New Jersey on Thursday while No. 1 goalie Dan Vladar looked rusty in Wednesday’s season-opening 7-0 defeat by Pittsburgh.
The coach said Vladar has completely recovered from a right-arm issue he sustained in a preseason game but just requires more practice time.
“He’s a hundred percent,” Tocchet said, “he just hasn’t had a lot of work. And Woll had a great game last game.”
The coach wants to wait a while before making a real big deal of puck possession.
“A lot of guys haven’t played a lot of games,” Tocchet said. “It’s a different year, too. I don’t know if that’s an excuse. It’s not a new team but it’s a young team. We’re trying to fight through that right now.”
>Thoughts on Martone
It’s no secret that one of the elements to Porter Martone’s success is his physical play, which seemed to be lacking in the first two games.
That doesn’t always mean knocking people around but rather getting into the close-in areas to launch more high-percentage shots.
“I think for him it’s positional play,” Tocchet said, “his give-and-go play, that’s what he is. He’s an inside player, be able to get his shot off with somebody draped on your back. That’s what he’s really good at. If he just concentrates on that, the other things will happen for him.”
Martone knows what he has to do.
“For me, I expect a lot more from myself to contribute to this team and help it win games,” he said. “Obviously it hasn’t been there the first two games but I think that’s kind of a mindset of what I have to do to kind of get back to my bread and butter. Just play to my identity.
“I think it’s kind of learning lessons and take what you can — the negatives and positives of a game. Just kind of continue to learn from them. Just go out there, enjoy playing and not think too much. When I’m doing that, I’m not at my best. Play the right way and compete.”
>Jiricek gets a start
David Jiricek was set to get a start on defense and Tocchet’s advice was to keep his game simple.
“I think he’s a guy that needs to simplify, get back the puck quick,” the coach said. “First guy you see, 12-foot pass, move it quickly. I think when he holds it a little too much, he gets in a little trouble. That’s not just him, that’s for all of us. The game comes to you. I think we’re playing a little bit slow. We need to play faster. That’s puck movement and I think he can do that.”
The coach said he planned to use Jiricek on the second power play unit.
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