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Takeaways: Some run and gun runs afoul as in Flyers 4-3 loss to the Islanders

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The Flyers made some exciting plays but were on the wrong end of plays a few times too many. The costly turnovers put them on the wrong end of the scoreboard Thursday night as they lost 4-3 to the visiting New York Islanders.

The basics

First period: 1:46- Travis Sanheim (Christian Dvorak) (SHG)
Second period: 3:45- Max Shabanov (Maxim Tsyplakov, Simon Holmstrom) (PPG), 11:10- Travis Konecny (Nick Seeler, Sean Couturier), 11:25- Anders Lee (Maxim Tsyplakov, Ryan Pulock), 17:12- Adam Pelech (Jean-Gabriel Pageau) (SHG), 18:02- Noah Cates (Tyson Foerster, Cam York) (PPG)
Third period: 17:06- Emil Heineman (Anthony Duclair, Mathew Barzal)
SOG: 21 (PHI) – 27 (NYI)

Some takeaways

TMZ? Well, it could be something.

The trio of Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras could have been a goldmine for Tippett just looking at the potential on paper. However, the synergy or chemistry didn’t seem to gel right off the bat. Tippett looked a bit out of sorts while Zegras and Michkov might have looked more comfy with Nikita Grebenkin or even Christian Dvorak on the wing. However a shift halfway through period one showed some promise. Tippett won a puck battle along the boards, feeding it to Zegras who quickly fed Michkov. Michkov was foiled on the attempt but it was a nifty little play.

Zegras was also good on both ends of the puck, breaking up a potential Islanders rush following a giveaway by Adam Ginning. But the line made two mistakes that caught them up ice and chasing in transition. Jamie Drysdale made some miscues on both goals given up while the line was on the ice. The line has some promise, but they without question need some work when they don’t have the puck. Perhaps a little too loose for Rick Tocchet’s liking.

Nice little goal

The Flyers maintained control in the Islanders end midway into period two. While making some changes, they continued making safe, crisp passes while creating some traffic in front of Ilya Sorokin. Travis Konecny took a nice pass from Nikita Grebenkin before finding some time and a lane to beat Sorokin for Philadelphia’s second goal.

Speaking of Ginning

Ginning was fine in the opening frame, with Zegras quickly erasing a miscue in the neutral zone. Ginning did a good job boxing out at times when not simply overpowering the Islander, clearing the zone and making simple, high-percentage clears out of his own zone. He wasn’t perfect by any stretch yet may still have the upper hand when it comes to being the Flyers sixth defenseman, something not too many would’ve stated when training camp started two weeks ago.

The magic Christian

It didn’t take long but my goodness what a pretty short-handed goal. Christian Dvorak boogied up ice and looked to be in alone on Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin. However, Dvorak made a beautiful backhanded pass to Travis Sanheim who buried it for a gorgeous tally and an early 1-0 lead. The goal made fans quickly forget the Sean Couturier minor penalty he took early in the game. Unfortunately on shift soon afterwards Dvorak seemed to be favoring his leg after taking a shot around his knee.

On the Flyers fourth penalty of the game, Dvorak again had a great short-handed chance. He tried outwaiting Sorokin but wasn’t able to put the puck by him despite some nice moves heading towards him. And in the third he nearly cashed in on a pass from Garnet Hathaway close in but wasn’t able to get wood (or aluminum) on the puck.

Ersson seeing pucks, stopping pucks…sometimes

Sam Ersson was getting the nod for the entire game Thursday night. And the idea that he’s seeing the puck easier was evident in the opening frame. The Flyers did block some shots but primarily the defense did a strong job of clearing the lanes to let Ersson see and stop the puck. Ersson also stopped a breakaway rush by Emil Heineman in the first and fortunately avoided any injury to his leg after looking like contact was made. In the second Heineman had another good shot but Ersson got the shaft of his stick on the puck.

A penalty to Garnet Hathaway led to New York’s first goal, one Ersson didn’t have much of a chance on. A nice pass and nicer deflection by Max Shabanov led to the game being tied.

The second goal was leaky sadly. Just 15 seconds after Travis Konecny gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead, the Islanders Anders Lee took a shot the goalie should’ve had even through a bit of traffic. It’s an exhibition game and they don’t count. You still want to see those saves made. Ersson atoned for the goal with a stellar stop against Mathew Barzal who was in alone for a one-time in the slot that Ersson stoned him on.

Ersson looked a bit pissed giving up a short-handed goal, unable to stop a two-man Islanders breakaway, which is saying a lot with a five-on-four advantage. Jamie Drysdale couldn’t make a play to get the puck up ice and tried to be way too cute. Michkov was left watching Jean-Gabriel Pageau passing to Adam Pelech for a rather easy goal. The slight “are you f–king kidding me” shrug afterwards was probably something he’d like to have back. Not a good look. Had the Flyers shrugged at every bad goal Ersson gave up last year some players would’ve had torn rotator cuffs. Fortunately the Flyers tied it up thanks to Noah Cates less than a minute later.

ZZZZamula

You have to feel for Egor Zamula. From being a key component as Michkov’s translator early last season to somehow finding his way into territory he doesn’t want to be in. Zamula was paired with Ginning at times but didn’t have a solid game. Zamula led all Flyers with three giveaways, something a forward might be able to get away with but not a defenseman. His play at times looked hesitant and just looked. A perfect example was halfway through the third when Adam Ginning had his man pinned up. Zamula decided to join Ginning, leaving an Islander wide open had the pass gotten into that area.

Zamula looks as if he knows he’s the fifth defenseman and has things sewed up for the final roster cuts. If he keeps playing like this, he’ll be fighting for his life as a Flyer before the season’s quarter pole. Zamula finished with 16:17 in ice time, the least of all Flyers defensemen.

It’s early, but one almost guarantee

Rick Tocchet is six games into his tenure with the Flyers. He has developed a small but interesting trait to start each period the last two games. In six consecutive periods over the last two games, Tocchet opened the period with the line of Noah Cates, Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster. Knowing they are very steady in both ends of the ice, and have a tremendous work ethic, they seem to set the tone early which is never a bad thing.

Two-thirds of the trio connected on a power play late in the second to tie things up. Foerster found a seam in the Islanders’ penalty kill that left Noah Cates with a gimme.

Glitch in the Xbox?

The Xfinity Mobile Arena had a slight glitch as the fans in attendance were being informed the time remaining in the first period. The scoreboard was stuck on the time (9:33) but play kept going on. The scoreboard clock was fixed shortly afterwards, leaving public address announcer Lou Nolan with a little less work on his hands.

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