WASHINGTON, D.C. – If or when the Flyers finally get past their injury bug on defense, it will be interesting to see how all the pairings shake out.
Cam York just came back from eight games away and was back with his old partner, Jamie Drysdale, for Tuesday night’s 4-3 overtime loss to Columbus.
It was a tandem which had worked well together in the past, especially during the Flyers’ late push to the playoffs last season. Coach Rick Tocchet is hoping they can recapture some of that magic as this season progresses.
Rasmus Ristolainen went back on IR for at least two weeks with the aggravation of a hand injury. But rather than fill that top tandem vacancy partnering with Travis Sanheim, York was moved back to play with Drysdale again.
Before Wednesday night’s game at Capital One Arena, Tocchet said the Drysdale-York pairing looked OK on Tuesday night, except it needs to move the puck a little quicker.
“For me, when they’re defending quicker. . .it seems like they’ve been hemmed in a bit,” Tocchet said. “It’s not their fault. Last year it seemed like they had the puck a lot more, got to the puck a little bit quicker.
“So that’s something they’re going to have to work on.”
Drysdale did score the game-tying goal with 9.6 seconds to play in the game to complete a three-goal comeback against the Blue Jackets.
York didn’t show any signs of rust in that game either.
Drysdale indicated he and York seem to work well together. It’s just a matter of time until they get back on rhythm again.
“We haven’t had a ton of time to play together,” Drysdale pointed out. “But it doesn’t really worry me that much. We weren’t very good in last night’s game to be honest but I don’t think there was much good in general.
“We just have to move our feet, work for each other. When we break out of our own end well, I think that’s something that we add. Getting into the O-zone as quick as possible.”
Asked about Tocchet’s comments regarding quicker breakouts, Drysdale paused.
“Move our feet,” he reiterated. “Look for first options. Sometime simplify.”
Drysdale’s offensive chances have picked up but he said he hasn’t made any major changes to his game.
“I think just stick to my game, bring the puck out clean,” he said.
>Bonk adjusts
Rookie Oliver Bonk played his ninth game of the season on Wednesday night and he’s been making some adjustments along the way. He had five assists in the first eight games and when he needs to fix something, it happens quickly.
He had a tough first period against the Blue Jackets and finished the night a minus-2. Tocchet doesn’t sound too concerned.
“A 20-year-old kid, you go through that kind of stuff,” Tocchet said. “D-men, it usually takes time to mature. I think he’s matured pretty well being up here. What I like is, he’s had some rough spots and he’s bounced back. You know he’s given us some good shifts out there.
“I’ve seen a couple shifts where he has struggled out there but he’s bounced back. So that’s a good thing for a 20-year-old.”
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