VOORHEES, N.J. – Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like the road – at least for the slow-starting Flyers.
First there was the short training camp in South Jersey. Then injuries to a couple key players. And finally, don’t forget the old “content with last season’s success” factor.
So this week’s three-game road trip through Tampa, Ottawa and Boston arrives at a rather opportune time.
The journey should allow the players to not only bond in different social settings but also go over some of the things they’re doing wrong without a coach leaning over their shoulders.
“It will be good for us,” defenseman Cam York predicted after Sunday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center. “Previous seasons we’ve always started the season on the road so it’s just been a little bit different this year. We’re looking forward to the trip.”
There have been some lineup changes this year so a week on the road should help bring the group closer together.
“The new guys, the young guys are kind of learning how we kind of go about things in terms of travel and the process,” York said. “You know, we’re a super young team. It will be good for us to get on the road.”
Noah Cates believes the team can have a healthy exchange of ideas while not dealing with the added pressure that comes with the home environment.
“There’s not as much pressure on the road,” Cates said. “It’s coming at a good time and we’re excited to get on the road.”
Added captain Sean Couturier: “I think this (0-2-1 start) is kind of a wakeup call, realizing we have to put the effort in. The work, to compete, to push ourselves to the next level is only going to take us so far.
“We have to get back to the basic structure of hockey. I think it’s going to be good to get away, be together for a couple days and bond as a team. Just stick together, that’s the key. We’re going through a little tougher time. I think it’s important to stick together no matter what.”
Coach Rick Tocchet knows it’s a positive thing when players try to solve problems by themselves.
“Sometimes when they go to dinner they can hash things out,” he said. “I think when it goes through the coaches, sometimes it gets old. I get tired of my voice. I try to use my experience as a player but sometimes you want the players to handle certain situations.”
Being on the road can only enhance that dialogue.
“There’s no point in me going in after the game and talking to the team,” Tocchet said. “The leaders should (say), ‘we need to win more battles, we’ve got to do more, we’ve got to be more disciplined.’ The message comes from me but we have to make sure we all pitch in with that message.”
>A Sanheim-York reunion?
With Rasmus Ristolainen sidelined by a left hand injury suffered in Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to Carolina, there’s the possibility Travis Sanheim could be reunited with his former partner, York for the Lightning game.
Sanheim, who was off from Sunday’s practice for maintenance, and York played quite well together in parts of the last two seasons. They moved the puck at high speed, something Tocchet has been preaching to the whole team.
Tocchet wasn’t about to tip his hand on lineup moves but he was willing to talk about what the positives of a reunion offer.
“You’re looking to play faster,” the coach said. “I think with our ‘D,’ when they’re looking up quickly, that’s when we’re at our best.
“I think ‘Sanny’ and ‘Yorkie’ have the propensity to move the puck up quicker.”
York has been playing well with Jamie Drysdale but getting back with Sanheim would be fun as well.
“I think with us, our No. 1 thing is our aggression,” York said. “When we’re on our toes. Playing fast. It’s hard for teams to keep up with us. So we have to use our legs. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”
>Short shots
Denver Barkey, out since the start of the season, is making the trip and could be back for Thursday’s game at Ottawa.
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