For much of the early going this season, the Flyers have been looking for a player or two who can provide a spark with some inspired play.
One of those was set to return on Monday night when coach Rick Tocchet said forward Denver Barkey would be going back into the lineup.
Barkey, who can play either wing or center, was injured in a preseason game and the game at the Tampa Bay Lightning would be his first of the season.
After the morning skate at Benchmark International Arena, Tocchet said Barkey plays an inspired brand of hockey.
“He’s a really smart hockey player,” Tocchet said. “Like, he goes to the right areas, the right spots, he defends well. His hockey IQ is really outstanding. Actually, he was having a real good camp for us.”
The energy factor can be invaluable for a team which, so far, has looked a little lethargic at times.
“Holding pucks, making plays,” Tocchet said of Barkey. “We’re playing a team that likes to swarm on you. We need some guys to get out of the (Lightning) swarm. He’s one guy who can do that for us.”
Tocchet wasn’t sure if he would start Barkey at wing or center but indicated he was leaning toward wing.
>Grebenkin to IR
Nikita Grebenkin, sidelined through the first three games, was placed on injured reserve on Monday. He’s dealing with an upper-body injury.
>Working on the inside game
Tocchet is encouraging his players to get to prime shooting spots on a more regular basis and that, in most cases, means working harder to get to inside areas.
“We just did a video, there’s too many guys not attacking the inside,” Tocchet said. “Everybody is kind of playing on the outside. And it’s really easy to defend (those shots).”
Other teams are having success getting inside on the Flyers and Tocchet wants his team to follow the same script vs. opponents.
“You have to be able to be creative but you also have to take the puck inside,” he said. “That makes teams play defense. That’s what we’re having a problem with. Teams are playing inside (against the Flyers) and we have three guys going to the one guy. And then someone’s open. We have to have the same attitude when we have the puck.”
>Shot imbalance
Through three games the Flyers had been outshot 122-62. Not exactly a formula for success.
Why such a negative differential?
Well, shots are shots and legitimate scoring chances are sort of a separate statistic. Tocchet seems to be satisfied with those numbers. Aside from the 7-0 blowout loss to Pittsburgh on opening night, the chances have been there.
“Sometimes you’re shooting for puck recovery,” he explained. “That’s part of offense, too. You have to create your own shot, too. You have a guy one-on-one, go inside, that’s creating your own shot (and scoring chance).
“You preach it and you’ve got to work on it but then in real game time, you’ve got to apply it.”
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