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Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Takeaways From Flyers Loss vs. Devils
The Philadelphia Flyers needed this one. Or, at the very least, they needed to show signs that they were trending in the right direction after a stretch of frustrating losses. And while the effort was certainly there against the New Jersey Devils, the results still weren't. A 3-1 loss to a divisional rival doesn't sting any less just because the process looked better. At this point in the season, points are what matter most, and the Flyers are watching valuable ones slip away. It wasn't an outright poor performance—far from it. They were more structured than in some of their recent defeats, and they didn't let the game get away from them the way they have in past matchups. But the same nagging issues lingered: an inability to finish their chances, stretches of disconnected play, and just not enough offensive punch when it mattered. 1. The Finishing Touch Still Isn't There The Flyers and Devils remained fairly even on shots throughout the entire game. They had their fair share of dangerous looks. But once again, the lack of finishing ability came back to bite them. This isn't new—go back through their recent losses, and the story is largely the same. The effort is there, the zone time is often there, but the final execution? Missing. They had chances to turn this game in their favor, but too many shots either missed the net, got blocked, or went right into the pads of Devils goaltender Jake Allen. It's not like the Flyers don't have offensive talent. The Tippett-Couturier-Michkov and Foerster-Cates-Brink lines have both been playing well in terms of chance generation, and Jamie Drysdale's goal definitely provided a spark in the last few minutes. Jamie didn't hear no bell. #NJDvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 9, 2025 But at some point, 'creating chances' has to turn into actual goals. That's the missing ingredient right now. This team has found ways to win this season even without an elite goal-scorer, but in tight games like this, they need someone to step up and bury those key moments. The Devils weren't overwhelmingly better, but they were clinical in their finishing. That was the difference. 2. Matvei Michkov's First-Period Benching Wasn't Just About One Play When John Tortorella shortened his bench after the Devils' first goal, sitting Matvei Michkov for the remainder of the first period, it sparked immediate reaction. The 20-year-old has been one of the Flyers' most dynamic offensive players lately, and the team's scoring struggles make it hard to justify keeping a player with his talent on the bench for long. After the game, Tortorella clarified that it wasn't just about the goal but about a series of plays leading up to the decision. This is in line with how he's coached all year—no one is above accountability, and if he doesn't like what he's seeing, he has no problem making a statement. "There are a number of things that come into play," Tortorella emphasized. "It's not just one specific are so many things that go on with me trying to develop that player, and I'm gonna continue to do it the way I think it should be done." 'There's so many things that go on with me trying to develop that player. There are a number of other things that go [into benching Michkov]…It's not just the one play.' —John Tortorella on sitting Matvei Michkov after the Devils' first goal #LetsGoFlyers — Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) March 9, 2025 The good news? Michkov wasn't benched for the rest of the game. He returned for the second and third periods, and his energy level was solid. The reality is that, while Michkov has been an offensive spark plug, he's still a young player adjusting to the NHL. Defensive lapses and missed assignments will happen, and Tortorella is going to make sure he learns from them. It's frustrating in the moment, especially when the team is struggling to score. But this is a long-term play. Michkov is a star in the making, and Tortorella's tough love approach isn't about punishing him—it's about molding him into the kind of player who can be relied upon in every situation. 3. An Improved Effort Only Counts for So Much No one could say the Flyers weren't engaged in this game. The compete level was there, and this was a better showing than some of their recent losses. But at this point in the season, 'better effort' isn't enough of a consolation. "Believe me, it sucks for us," Drysdale said postgame. "I know it sucks for [the fans]." There are no moral victories in a playoff race. The Flyers can't afford to take positives from another loss without also recognizing that they need actual results. And the frustrating part is that this was a winnable game. The Devils didn't dominate. The Flyers had their moments. But that final bit of execution, that killer instinct, was missing. Final Thoughts It's another frustrating night for the Flyers, another game where they did a lot of things well but still couldn't find a way to win. The defensive structure was better. The fight was there. But the same issues—scoring struggles, brief lapses in execution, and inconsistency in finishing plays—held them back. The good news is that they aren't rolling over. This isn't a team that quits. But they need to turn this energy into wins—quickly. Otherwise, all the effort in the world won't mean much if they're watching the playoffs from home. Gameday 65 Preview: Flyers vs. Devils The Philadelphia Flyers are at a bit of a crossroads right now. Get To Know New Flyers Winger Nikita Grebenkin The Philadelphia Flyers made waves with their Deadline Day trade of sending center Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for 22-year-old Russian winger Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick in the in 2027 NHL Draft.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gameday 65 Preview: Flyers vs. Devils
The Philadelphia Flyers are at a bit of a crossroads right now. They dropped a frustrating game to the Kraken last night, one where they controlled the puck, generated chances, and—somehow—had almost nothing to show for it. The defense looked shaky. The offense looked snakebitten. And John Tortorella? Well, he's made it clear that if they don't get things back on track fast, this homestand could start heading in the wrong direction. So, that brings us to tonight: a second game of a back-to-back against a Devils team that, for all its inconsistency this year, still packs plenty of firepower. This is exactly the kind of moment where we see what this Flyers group is really made of. 1. The Flyers Need to Capitalize on Their Offensive Zone Time The loss to Seattle wasn't for a lack of effort. The Flyers were all over the offensive zone for large stretches of the game, cycling the puck well, creating high-danger chances, and generally doing everything except putting the puck in the net. It was one of those nights where it seemed like no matter what they did, nothing went in. Owen Tippett admitted that losing guys like Scott Laughton and Erik Johnson affects the room, but it's not an excuse for the loss: 'This is our group for the rest of the year, so we've gotta find ways to win.' #LetsGoFlyers — Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) March 8, 2025 And this isn't the first time we've seen this. The Flyers have had stretches this season where they control possession and generate quality chances, only to come up empty. That can't happen against the Devils. New Jersey is too talented to let off the hook. If the Flyers want to come away with two points, they need to make sure their offensive zone pressure turns into actual goals. That means getting to the front of the net and finishing those second and third opportunities. It means getting traffic in front of the goalie to make life difficult. It means taking advantage of rebounds and broken plays instead of just making things look pretty on the perimeter. Guys like Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, and Bobby Brink are going to be key here. They've been dangerous lately, but the Flyers need them to convert those looks into points. 2. A Big Opportunity for Ivan Fedotov John Tortorella is giving Sam Ersson a breather tonight, which means Ivan Fedotov gets another chance to build on his recent solid performances. Fedotov has had an up-and-down transition to the NHL, but lately, he's shown real promise. His positioning has been strong, he's tracking the puck better, and he's made some huge saves in key moments. The Flyers are hoping he can carry that momentum into this game, because they'll need him to be sharp. Lineup update for #NJDvsPHI: Ivan Fedotov will start in net. Cam York draws back into the lineup. Emil Andrae comes out. — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 9, 2025 The Devils, despite their struggles this season, still have some of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league. Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier can make life miserable for a goalie if they're given space to work with. And with the Flyers' defense looking shaky last night (Jamie Drysdale being the exception), Fedotov could be in for a busy night. The question is: Can he step up in a high-pressure game? With the Flyers still scrapping for a playoff spot, every point matters, and their goaltending has to be strong down the stretch. Fedotov doesn't have to steal the game outright, but he does need to come up with key saves at the right moments. If he does that, the Flyers will be in business. 3. The Flyers Have to Handle the Devils' Speed Game If there's one area where New Jersey can really burn you, it's in transition. When the Devils are playing their game, they're flying through the neutral zone, catching teams on their heels, and generating odd-man rushes. That's been a problem for the Flyers at times this year, and if they're not careful, it could be a problem again tonight. The Devils love to attack with speed, and they have the skill to finish those chances. Even without Jack Huges in the lineup, they have plenty of offensive firepower. Jesper Bratt can weave through defenders like a magician. Even their defensemen, guys like Luke Hughes, are aggressive in jumping up on the rush. So, how do the Flyers counter that? First, they have to manage the puck better than they did last night. Turnovers in bad areas—especially at the blue lines—are a death sentence against a team like New Jersey. The Flyers need to make smart decisions with the puck, avoid forcing plays that aren't there, and stay structured in the neutral zone. Second, their defense needs to be more disciplined. The Kraken exposed some loose coverage last night, and the Devils have the skill to do even more damage if given the same opportunities. This means staying tight in coverage, limiting time and space, and—most importantly—keeping their feet moving. If the Flyers get caught flat-footed, the Devils will feast. Projected Lines Philadelphia Flyers Forwards: Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov Olle Lycksell - Ryan Poehling - Travis Konecny Nicolas Deslauriers - Rodrigo Abols - Jakob Pelletier Defense: Cam York - Travis Sanheim Nick Seeler - Jamie Drysdale Egor Zamula - Rasmus Ristolainen Goalies: Ivan Fedotov Samuel Ersson New Jersey Devils Forwards: Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Stefan Noesen Ondrej Palat - Dawson Mercer - Jesper Bratt Erik Haula - Cody Glass - Daniel Sprong Tomas Tatar - Curtis Lazar - Nathan Bastian Defense: Luke Hughes - Brett Pesce Brian Dumoulin - Jonathan Kovacevic Brenden Dillon - Dennis Cholowski Goalies: Jake Allen Jacob Markstrom Three Takeaways From Flyers Loss vs. Kraken The Philadelphia Flyers knew this homestand wasn't going to be easy. But they certainly didn't want it to go like this. Get To Know New Flyers Winger Nikita Grebenkin The Philadelphia Flyers made waves with their Deadline Day trade of sending center Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for 22-year-old Russian winger Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick in the in 2027 NHL Draft. Matvei Michkov Named NHL Rookie Of The Month For February Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for the month of February. He led all rookies in goals (5) and points (10).
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Important Flyers Forward Exits Injured Vs. Devils
The Philadelphia Flyers suffered a tough 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 29. During this matchup, the Devils had far more control than the Flyers and took advantage of it. This was especially true during the second period when the Devils scored four times. View the to see embedded media. Losing was not the only bad part of the Flyers' night, as forward Owen Tippett also left the contest early with an undisclosed injury. #NJDvsPHI Update: Flyers forward Owen Tippett will not return to tonight's game. — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 30, 2025 During the second period of the contest, Tippett received a big open-ice hit from Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon. He appeared shaken up on the play. With Tippett being one of the Flyers' top forwards, they will be hoping he isn't dealing with an injury that is too serious. In 52 games this season, he has 14 goals, 30 points, 46 blocks, and 75 updated with the most interesting Flyers stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
