Flyers need to play with ‘confidence’ to convert on missed opportunities: ‘You just got to hit the net’
The Flyers are averaging the third-fewest shots per game (23.5) and are tied with the Chicago Blackhawks with the second-fewest goals this season entering Sunday's game against the Calgary Flames.
CALGARY, Alberta ― With the Flyers up 2-1, Sean Couturier had a mini-breakaway with just over 15 minutes left in regulation on Thursday against the New York Rangers and sent a shot wide.
Less than a minute later, off a turnover deep in the Rangers’ zone, Owen Tippett had two chances; however, rookie goalie Dylan Garand stopped him, followed by Tippett sending a shot off the crossbar.
Those are just two examples of several where the Flyers could have taken a commanding 3-1 lead, or tied the score in a game they ultimately lost 3-2.
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Missed opportunities have plagued the Flyers this season, so much so that it could have swung several games in their favor. The Flyers have lost eight games by a goal in regulation, overtime, or a shootout.
Facing a Calgary Flames team on Sunday (7 p.m., NBCSP) that has improved since starting the season with five straight regulation losses — former Flyers forward Joel Farabee leads the team in goals (six) and points (16) — the Flyers need to start taking advantage of their opportunities.
But how?
“It’s confidence, and I’ve been saying it this whole year, it’s hockey. It’s going to be ugly, gritty sometimes. It’s pucks off skates and different things; like the one goal we scored was off me, off Matvei [Michkov], and in the net,” said Noah Cates following Saturday’s practice that saw Porter Martone back on a line with him and Michkov.
“So it’s got to just get thrown there. Knowing guys are going there, knowing guys are going to the greasy areas, and fighting and battling to get open and help each other score goals or create space for each other.”
Another problem: the Flyers just aren’t scoring.
Not only are the Flyers averaging the third-fewest shots per game (23.5), but despite having played 18 games entering Sunday, they are tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the second-fewest goals.
“How do you [fix it?]” coach Rick Tocchet asked on Saturday. “Well, it’s working on your game; it’s lots of shooting the puck after practice, it’s deception. It’s a lot of different things. It’s knowing the pressure of going in on somebody, reading the goalie. Listen, when you’re getting opportunities, that’s good. When you’re missing them, at least you’re getting the opportunities. Now we just need to translate it into some goals.”
Is it a confidence issue? Because when things aren’t going great overall, sticks do get gripped a little more.
» READ MORE: The Flyers have a third-period problem. If they can’t solve it, their 2026-27 hopes might soon disappear.
“Anytime you’re in the shooting area, I would never defer, especially when you’re struggling. I would be shooting the puck all the time, and I would maintain to hit the net. I know people want to pick the corner — no, I’m not saying throw pucks into the belly of a goalie — but I think you just got to hit the net, and then those pucks will go in,” said Tocchet.
“It’ll go off the goalie’s blocker. It’ll go off somebody’s skate, and then all of a sudden you get one. Now you loosen up. Now the next time you might try something different, but I think originally being more shot-oriented, hitting the net, and then consistently just going to the net for rebounds. Matvei’s got a lot of those rebound goals. Trevor [Zegras] the last couple of weeks is getting points where he’s throwing pucks to the net, and people are getting rebounds. So that’s the way you get out of slumps or get confidence.
Breakaways
Former Flames goalie Dan Vladař will start in goal for the Flyers. It will be his first appearance against Calgary, where he played 100 games across four seasons before signing with the Flyers on July 1, 2025. ... Tocchet said there will be no lineup changes, which means that defenseman David Jiříček will be a scratch for an eighth straight game.
