The Flyers-Caps rookie game yesterday was about what one would expect: a spirited, but often sloppy game. Play was a little sluggish in the first period but picked up considerably in the second and third stanzas. The Flyers' squad built a 3-1 lead and hung on to win, 3-2.
This time around, there were no individual performances reminiscent of James van Riemsdyk's electrifying display in the 2009 game, when he scored four goals and added an assist. That's not to say, however, that there were no players who stood out.
Although Sean Couturier earned an assist on Blake Kessel's power play goal in the second period, the eighth overall pick of the 2011 Entry Draft did not look like a player who is ready to compete in the NHL. He was frequently knocked off the puck and did not show the sort of explosive stride necessary to gain separation and create operating room. More muscle and more skating work are definitely needed, although this was only one game.
Brayden Schenn did not get on the scoreboard in this game but was the best player on the ice at certain junctures of the game (although Washington's Cody Eakin was the best player over the balance of the game). Schenn never really dominated in the game, but you could see that he possesses a skill level and degree of polish to his game that is a cut above most of the others who were on the ice yesterday.
Kessel has always possessed a good shot, so it was not all that surprising to see him score a goal in the game. He also earned an assist. There is work to be done on his defensive game -- both he and partner Oliver Lauridsen got in self-created trouble at times -- but the Flyers knew going into camp that the former UNH defenseman is still a work in progress.
Even before the rookie game, Tyler Brown was cited by Paul Holmgren as the camp's most pleasant surprise. He lived up to that yesterday as well, not only scoring a goal but also displaying NHL caliber speed. His upside is as a checking line type but he's still a player to keep an eye on with the Phantoms as a rookie this season.
Jason Akeson, whom the Flyers
signed the same day as Brown, was an offensively dominant overager in the OHL last season. He looked quite good in the rookie game yesterday. My concern about him was that he might be a stride slow -- which is deadly to NHL aspiration for a player who is undersized (he's listed at 5-10). But I didn't notice Akeson having any problems keeping up with the play. The skill level is there.
Undrafted camp invitee Tomas Hyka played a very strong game as well. The 18-year-old right winger scored what proved to the game winning goal and generally looked to have strong hockey sense as well as good speed. Unlike most of the other players on the ice, Hyka had the benefit of previous experience playing in a high-caliber pro league (Czech Extraliga) against grown men as well as gaining major international tournament experience at the 2011 Under-18 World Championships. According to Paul Holmgren, the Flyers had considered taking Hyka in the 2011 Entry Draft but he wound up going unselected, which is why he got a camp invite. He is slated to play this season with Gatineau in the QMJHL. Click
here for a Youtube clip (poor quality) of Hyka playing with the Olympiques in preseason action.
Both Philadelphia goalies -- unsigned former draft pick Brad Phillips and undrafted Michael Houser (a native of Wexford, PA) -- performed well in the game. Houser in particular made some good stops in the third period to nail down the win.
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The European regular seasons are now underway in Sweden and Finland. In his season opening game, Flyers' goaltending prospect
Niko Hovinen carried a shutout into the final 6:39 of the game. Unfortunately, he was not able to preserve a 1-0 lead in the final minutes, and his Pelicans Lahti team went down to the Espoo Blues by a 2-1 score. Hovinen finished with 23 saves on 25 shots.
The first goal he allowed was one where he committed a little too early to the ice and was scored on from a side angle near the net. The other was a flip-shot from the high slot that appeared to change direction off a Pelicans defenseman.
Click
here for game highlights.
Also of note from Finland's SM-Liiga, ex-Flyer Sami Kapanen began his comeback bid as an active player (after one season of retirement) for the KalPa Kuopio club that he owns and in which Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell are minority shareholders. Kapanen converted a 2-on-1 to score the first goal of his team's 2-0 shutout win over JYP Jyväskylä. Highlight clips are
available here.
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