Sean Couturier has some ideas for how the Flyers can jump-start their offense: ‘We’ve got to simplify our game’
Coach Rick Tocchet expanded on his definition for "simplify," and it's not easy with the likes of Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen sidelined.
Misery loves company, and the Los Angeles Kings and Flyers, each still looking for their first win, are tied for the fewest goals scored this season at 11.
That’s where the companionship ends.
LA (0-3-2) has played four fewer games, is averaging 2.20 goals and 30.6 shots, and has a 15.8% power play. The Flyers (0-6-3) are averaging 1.22 goals and 20.4 shots, and are 7.7% on the power play.
The Flyers will try to start the slow crawl out of the doldrums on Saturday against the visiting Ottawa Senators (7 p.m., NBCSP). Part of that is rebuilding an offensive game that has become not just stagnant, but nonexistent at times.
“I think we’ve got to simplify our game,” captain Sean Couturier said. “Bring more pucks to the net, and go on rebounds, try to find some dirty goals. Not going to be free, but we can simplify our game. I’m sure we’ll get better results.”
» READ MORE: How could the Flyers shake things up amid a historic skid? Here are some of the possible moves.
A lack of shots on goal isn’t new for the Flyers. Last season, they averaged the fifth-fewest (25.5), but they also averaged nearly three goals a game.
Do the Flyers need to become a team like the Carolina Hurricanes, who thrive on just shooting from anywhere?
“I think so. I mean, we can keep trying to skill our way out of it, and we’re going to make it harder on ourselves,” Couturier said. “Or we can simplify it and work each shift to win battles, get on loose pucks, and create rebounds. I think that’s the key.”
But simplifying things isn’t as easy as just saying that.
“Carolina moves their feet. They attack the internal [areas]. They get pucks to the net with people,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “I love the word simplify, but simplify is: move your feet, get in front of somebody, shoot the puck, get in front of it, get a rebound. You just don’t sit around and be simplified.
“But I laugh at that word. Like, what does simple mean? ... Everybody says simplify. What does that mean when you really dissect it? We have to play a faster brand of hockey. We’re playing a little bit slower, and I think a big factor is [Cam York] and [Rasmus Ristolainen] being out, it’s a big factor, and [Travis Konecny, too]. They push the pace for us. So we’re going to have to just continue to preach it.”
» READ MORE: Rookie Oliver Bonk’s ability to bounce back has impressed his coach
The message from the coaches has been to manage the game better and be more disciplined — the Flyers are ranked No. 1 in times shorthanded (35).
But they also need to be better at driving to the net. The eye test shows the Flyers aren’t getting to the front or into high-danger spots. According to Natural Stat Trick, they are tied with the Kings for the third-fewest high-danger chances (47) at five-on-five.
“You saw the first period [against Detroit on Thursday], we were throwing volume shots, we’re getting blocked. There’s a way of doing it,” Tocchet said.
“If a D gets it, you’ve got to move your feet to the middle and shoot it. You just don’t shoot it from the corner and hit a pad. You’ve got to move your feet, and then — we’re not telling the forwards not to shoot. You’re in a corner one-on-one, guy in your back, get out of there. We’re asking even our top players, get out of the corner, take it to the net, shoot it. That’s something we’re not getting
“That’s why we did a lot of small ice games. We have to continue to work on these little things like that to beat people.”
Breakaways
Owen Tippett is a game-time decision. According to Tocchet, the forward is dealing with an upper-body injury that has been bugging him for a bit and was exacerbated against the Red Wings on Thursday. Tippett was drilled in the first period by Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider but played the rest of the game. Tocchet said it is unrelated to his injuries that ended his last season in the playoffs. ... Goalie Dan Vladař will start against Ottawa. He did not play in the Flyers’ 2-1 loss to the Senators on Oct. 8 in Canada. He is 1-1-2 against the Senators in four career games with a 1.76 goals-against average and .940 save percentage. Linus Ullmark will start for the Senators, and former Flyers goalie Sam Ersson is the backup. Ersson, who was drafted by the Flyers in 2018, is 0-2-0 in three games this season with a 5.26 GAA and .829 save percentage. His two starts came on the second night of a back-to-back.
