Fired-up Flyers guard against being ‘overexuberant’ in Game 3 against the Penguins
They have a chance to take a commanding series lead, but they don't want to get too far ahead of themselves in a home game against a veteran Pittsburgh team.
Flyers fans are revved up for Game 3 against the Penguins on Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, the first taste of playoff hockey at home since 2018.
The team is trying to walk the line between feeding off the crowd’s energy and not getting too carried away with excitement.
“We know that they’re going to be buzzing and crazy tonight, so we’ve got to feed on the energy, but in the right way,” Cam York said Wednesday. “Our team has been defend-first mentality all year, so I don’t think we’re going to get out of position or anything like that.”
The Flyers actually have a better record on the road than at home this season, finishing 23-14-4 on the road compared to 20-13-8 at home.
» READ MORE: ‘Goose bumps’: Former NHLers recall their playoff memories of playing for and against the Flyers in Philly
In Pittsburgh, Noah Cates said it was something of a blessing in disguise to be starting the series on the road, to be fully locked in on hockey with no outside distractions during the Flyers’ first playoff games.
The trip couldn’t have gone better, and the Flyers are returning to South Philly up two games to none in the best-of-seven series and sure to see a raucous crowd. But coach Rick Tocchet wants to make sure the team keeps that same focus.
“We’ve got to be careful that we’re not overexuberant,” Tocchet said. “What happens is, you run around and you pinch the wrong time, undisciplined piles and you punch a guy. These are the things that you’ve got to be careful of. But I don’t want to take the aggressiveness and using the crowd for an advantage away, but this is where experience comes in.”
The Flyers and Penguins got chippy at the end of Monday’s Game 2, with a few game misconducts handed out in the final two minutes.
Tocchet and the team have emphasized staying even-keeled all year, so don’t expect a fight just after puck drop or something to settle the score on home ice.
“That happens, we handled it well,” Tocchet said. “I understand their point of view. I mean, I’ve done it before. It’s got nothing to do with this game. You try to get a physical edge at the end somehow, I understand it.”
Ten Flyers made their playoff debuts in Game 1, from Porter Martone, playing his 10th NHL game, to Rasmus Ristolainen, who had played the most games of any active NHL player without making the playoffs.
There were nerves in Game 1. There still might be, but Sean Couturier said that the road experience was a huge boost.
“Pittsburgh was a good test, too,” said Couturier, the team’s captain. “That was a loud building there, in warmups and all that stuff. There’s a lot of atmosphere there. ... I’m sure it’ll be louder here, but it’s good that we’re experiencing these things, and it doesn’t seem to faze us so far.”
Breakaways
Owen Tippett missed morning skate for “maintenance,” Tocchet said, and is available to be in the Game 3 lineup. Alex Bump skated in his place in warmups. Tippett also missed Sunday’s practice, the day before the Game 2 win. ... Emil Andrae skated Wednesday after missing Game 2 with an upper body injury.
Flyers lead series 2-0
Game 1: Flyers 3, Penguins 2 | Sielski: Kids stand tall
Game 2: Flyers 3, Penguins 0 | Sielski: Stealing Pens' will
Game 3: Penguins at Flyers, 7 p.m. Wednesday, NBCSP/TNT/truTV/HBO MAX
Game 4: Penguins at Flyers, 8 p.m. April 25, NBCSP/TBS/truTV/HBO MAX
*Game 5: Flyers at Penguins, April 27 (Time TBD)
*Game 6: Penguins at Flyers, April 29 (Time TBD)
*Game 7: Flyers at Penguins, May 2 (Time TBD)
*if necessary
