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Takeaways: Flyers lose to underwhelming Bruins team 4-3 despite two power-play goals

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The Philadelphia Flyers scored two power-play goals. But an Alex Bump boo-boo and Helge Grans falling at a bad time resulted in the Bruins defeating a rather full Flyers lineup 4-3 at the first game at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The basics

First period: 8:57- Travis Sanheim (Christian Dvorak, Sean Couturier) (PPG), 1959- Johnny Beecher (Unassisted)
Second period: 3:57- Dalton Bancroft (Mason Lohrei, Hampus Lindholm) (PPG), 7:12- Nikita Grebenkin (Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras), 13:04- Trevor Zegras (Matvei Michkov, Owen Tippett) (PPG), 15:58- Dalton Bancroft (Georgii Merkulov, Frederic Brunet)
Third period: 13:45-Jeffrey Viel (Patrick Brown, Henri Jokiharju)
SOG: 27 (PHI) – 27 (BOS)

Some takeaways

Tippett tidy on special teams

Owen Tippett was rarely used on the Flyers penalty kill under John Tortorella. A new coach means changes, and Tippett saw some time on the penalty kill late in the first against Boston. Sadly, the successful penalty kill was forgotten when a brain cramp by Alex Bump cost Philadelphia dearly. Johnny Beecher took the puck and got it behind Sam Ersson with 0.6 seconds to go.

After 40 minutes, Tippett had 11:21 ice time with an assist, a hit, a blocked shot and two shots. More importantly, he was noticed more often for good things he was doing on the ice. A wraparound in the third was nearly the go-ahead goal but DiPietro made the stop.

Power play, power play

Philadelphia’s initial power-play unit was talent-heavy, which should be effective as the season wears on. Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny, and Owen Tippett had one or two looks but nothing materialized. What worked was the second unit. Some quick passing down low had Christian Dvorak find Travis Sanheim tight on Bruins keeper Michael DiPietro. Sanheim banged it in for a 1-0 lead. A good second unit is going to be crucial this year, and they delivered.

A second Flyers power play had one backdoor chance foiled with the first unit. The second unit didn’t get set but it could be a unit that might be a fine compliment to the top five.

A third power play? Oh twas a beauty!. Zegras confidently strode over the blueline and fed the puck to Michkov. Michkov skated towards the center of the ice and then gorgeously fed the puck back to Zegras who buried the puck beyond the Bruins goalie for a 3-2 lead. Two power-play goals in one game? Well that happened five times all of last season.

The fourth chance of the night went for not despite Philadelphia pulling Ersson for an extra attacker to try and tie things up. They didn’t, but it’s still a step in the right direction for a power play that is seemingly heading away from horrible.

Batting cleanup, Nikita Grebenkin

After the second Bruins goal, the Flyers looked like they were mailing it in a bit. Tocchet might have said something, or one of the veterans might have piped up. Whatever was said, it worked. Nikita Grebenkin nearly found Matvei Michkov on a breakaway about a minute before Grebenkin batted the puck in mid-air to tie things up 2-2.

It took a while, particularly against such an underwhelming Bruins lineup, but the Flyers finally looked like they were involved and engaged in the first home game in the “Xbox.”

Grebenkin also had a penalty shot attempt and had DiPietro beat. Just not the goal post. The score remained 3-2. Of the remaining Flyers not locks to be with the club, Grebenkin is starting to separate himself from others on the fence.

Fourth line futility

The Flyers fourth line isn’t going to be gangbusters this season. You do want to see some offensive zone time occasionally. The line of Rodrigo Abols, Jacob Gaucher and Garnet Hathaway were all kinds of paltry on some early shifts, especially one following the Sanheim goal. The fact the Bruins couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn helped Ersson out. Throughout the game, Hathaway (who took a good hit in the second period that stood him up) always seemed to be in the wrong end of the ice. It was a game he should forget rather quickly.

Hathaway tried dropping the gloves with Mark Kastelic. Nothing materialized from it, other than Kastelic’s helmet being knocked off.

D-day for Luchanko?

Maybe the newness has worn off Jett Luchanko, but he can still do the odd little thing to make you take notice. Luchanko changed gears around center ice and direction during a shift in the first and had the Bruins defender in knots, causing him to fall. Luchanko might be working against the stellar training camp debut he had last season. He didn’t look out of position but didn’t dazzle.

Had Luchanko made the impact last training camp at this year’s training camp he would probably be almost a lock to be with the Flyers all season. As it stands now the jury is still out and going to be for the next couple of weeks.

Konecny exits and enters sin bin

Konecny left the penalty box after sitting for a slashing minor. Then he tripped a Bruin as he turned up ice, returning to the box almost immediately after serving the first minor. The second minor was costly as both Luchanko and Garnet Hathaway missed chances to clear. The Bruins’ Dalton Bancroft blew it by Ersson for a 2-1 lead.

Mental lapse for Bump

Alex Bump has had time to make a case he belongs with the Flyers. While a lot of offensive production hasn’t been seen, he has been knocking on the door at times. Sadly, the gaffe Bump made late in the first period is a no-no. Ragging the puck to end a period should be a given. But Bump misplayed it badly. A good first period and lead evaporated as Ersson wasn’t aware the puck was in the danger zone.

Bump might be ready at some point for the Flyers, but a play like that looms large for a young’un hoping to make a case. An established player could do the same thing. Bump simply doesn’t have that precious wiggle room to make a snafu like that. The forward finished the game with 11:18 ice time and was a -2 for the game.

Dvorak dyn-o-mite

Christian Dvorak is proving himself to be worth the one-year contract and the price tag that came with it. The center is big and is helping out whatever line he ends up on. Dvorak, who had an assist on the opening goal, made room for his linemates often. And he played a rather solid game in his own end. The combinations are still works in progress for some lines. Whatever line Dvorak is a part of during the regular season, his linemates should be the benefactors.

Parent remembered

Prior to the opening faceoff, the Flyers took a moment of silence to remember the late great Bernie Parent. The Flyers also announced they will be holding a celebration of life honoring Parent sometime in November. Details will be made public at a later date. Lauren Hart was also wearing a Flyers jersey with Parent’s name and number on the back as she performed the anthem.

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