Heading into last night’s Flyers Kraken game, the one thing you couldn’t say about the Flyers was that they did have heart, fight, and character. Now well, you can’t say that as well. The Flyers have played their worst game of the 2022-23 season. A game where the Flyers were outplayed, out-hustled, out-character, and just all out. Through 56 games, the little engine might be running out of steam.
On Thursday night, John Tortorella’s team was rolled up by Seattle, 6-2 at Climate Pledge Arena. The blowout kicked off a four-game road trip for the Flyers (22-24-10), who have lost seven of their last nine games (2-4-3). Any momentum that the Flyers generated prior to the NHL All-Star break is gone.
On To the Action
Travis Konecny snapped a 13-game goal drought with a pair of third-period markers. The Flyers were trailing by five on both goals. In a span of five days, Dave Hakstol’s Kraken (31-18-6) thoroughly took it to the Flyers twice. With a 4-3-win Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center, Seattle swept the two-game regular-season series by a combined score of 10-5. An embarrassing first period set the tone for the Flyers’ night.
On an early power play, Kevin Hayes had a turnover as Jared McCann stripped him of the puck, took it the other way, and blasted it past Carter Hart for the game-opening goal. The Flyers didn’t record a shot until 6:19 minutes were left on the clock. It turned out to be their only shot of the period. Fifty-eight seconds after the Flyers’ first and only attempt, Yanni Gourde extended the Kraken’s lead to 2-0 with a 6-on-5 goal courtesy of a delayed penalty. The Flyers were outshot 12-1 during the opening stanza.
What makes this more puzzling is that the Flyers had four days of rest to prepare for this game. The effort against the Kraken was reminiscent of the team’s effort coming out of the break against the New York Islanders last week. And for some reason, they were dominated. Make no mistake, Seattle is good. But there’s no excuse for how the Flyers started and played. Hart was hung out to dry. Tortorella had to pull his 24-year-old netminder in the second period after the fourth goal was allowed. He finished with 15 saves on 19 shots.
The road trip will now continue into Western Canada, where the Flyers will visit the Rick Tocchet lead Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
This and That
- Flyers have gone 26 for 162 on the power play this season. That works out to 16.05%
- Flyers are 22-24-10 under John Tortorella, 56 games
- GOALS FOR: 149/ 2.6
- GOALS AGAINST: 182/ 3.25
- SHOTS FOR- 1658/ 29
- SHOTS AGAINST- 1750/ 31.25
- OT RECORD- 1-9
- SHOOT OUT RECORD– 1-1
- Sean Couturier ($7.75M) – Ryan Ellis ($6.25M)- Cam Atkinson ($5.9M)- Tanner Laczynski ($762,500)- Zach MacEwen (925,000)- 21.5 million dollars of contract on IR
- Since the 2021-2022 season the Flyers have gone 54 for 395 on the power play 13%
Bedard Check In
Conor Bedard Regina Pats/ Center/ Western Hockey League 2022-23
GP G A PTS PIM +/-
39 48 48 96 44 +32
Matt Bednarczyk is your host of Talking Philly Sports With Matty B. He is a proud retired US Army Sergeant First Class, he is also a combat veteran with over 80 months served in Afganistan, and Iraq . Huge Hockey Fan. Matt is a lifelong 4 for 4 Philly sports fan. Born and raised on the Mayfair and Tacony neighborhood lines of Northeast Philly. He brings over 40 years of Philadelphia Sports passion and provides a realistic look at our Major Sports Teams and the most passionate sports fans on the planet. Look for his show live on Edge of Philly Sports.
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