Foerster feeling more confident after his recent play

      With a timely goal under his belt in Wednesday night’s overtime loss in Edmonton, Tyson Foerster appears to be finding his game again.

      While it was just his fourth goal in the first 20 games of the season, Foerster has picked up his game over the past week or so.

      The Flyers are hoping he can get back to the form which led to 25 goals as recently as the 2024-25 campaign.

      “As he gets his shot off, that’s his gift, right?” coach Rick Tocchet said after Friday’s practice at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio where the Flyers play on Saturday night. “We’ve talked about it, like he’s got a quick release. If he moves his feet just another foot or two — I felt like he was getting his shot blocked a lot.

      “If you look at the goal (at Edmonton) on the power play, it was off his stick in two seconds. That’s when he’s on his game. And his corner work, he’s getting better. I would say when he gets his shot off, you know he’s in the game.”

      The former first-round draft pick is at his best when he’s throwing his weight around.

      Missing 49 games last season due to shoulder surgery may have slowed Foerster’s physical game down a bit but it appears to be coming back now.

      Sometimes it takes a while to get over that sort of adversity from a mental standpoint.

      “We’ve talked about it,” Tocchet said. “Been in the league this long, people come back from injuries, you don’t really mean to do it but you almost think about it. So maybe it’s a mental thing.

      “But it’s something he’s progressing and getting better at.”

      Foerster has been patient during this offensive dry spell and it’s paying off. He’s finally getting results. What’s he been working on?

      “Odd-man rushes,” he said. “Faster changes. We just did some video on it today. Getting some chances (off better play) in the D-zone. You know, get the puck back and you should have an odd-man rush.

      “It (the injury recovery) has been a hundred percent for a while now. We’re good. I’m really not thinking about it anymore.”

      >Working on three-on-three

      The Flyers are 0-6 in games that go past regulation time. It’s nice to earn a point but that’s also leaving six points on the table in the first quarter of the season.

      It took the Oilers less than a minute to finish off the Flyers on Wednesday night after Philadelphia had put together an inspired two-goal rally to overcome a 2-0 deficit and send the game to OT.

      What’s the problem with the three-on-three format?

      “We actually worked on it today, did a video,” Tocchet said. “The stats (in the six games), we’ve had five chances, the other team has had 12. We’re giving up two-on-ohs, two-on-ones. The game is five-on-five, when it goes to three-on-three, all these guys — the (Connor) McDavids, the (Leon) Draisaitls – they get more time and space.

      “It’s hard to defend those guys. For us, it’s not really a one-man show. We need three guys participating. It seems like we’re not getting that three-man attack or three-man defense. Quite frankly, we throw the puck away. You have to have hockey IQ. That’s probably the No. 1 culprit for us.”

      Tocchet said a lot of jobs are open on the overtime lineups. The coaching staff just can’t seem to find the right mix. Overtime requires strong two-way play and right now it’s been a weakness.

      “Not to be negative but it’s not just one guy,” Tocchet said. “I could pick out six guys who have made huge mistakes this year. It’s on us as a staff to find the chemistry. Make people accountable and really teach it.”

      >York improving

      Tocchet said defenseman Cam York is starting to pick up his play after a recent injury cost him seven games. After 13 games he was a minus-10.

      “He’s trying to find consistency,” Tocchet said. “He played really great for us last year (26 points, plus-5). This year he’s been a little inconsistent. I just think when he’s not deferring and when he’s hesitant, that’s when he gets in trouble.

      “I just want him, even on the blue line, to attack. Sometimes he’ll get it and just reset the puck. I’m not saying to be careless but I just think being in attack mode more. He’s been injured for two, three weeks and that hurts. But I think his game has been coming.”

      >More minutes for Michkov

      Michkov played more minutes than usual in the Edmonton game. Just coincidence?

      “I think he had a good game in Vancouver (on Monday) also,” Tocchet said. “It’s just more the flow of the game. He was going.”