Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Quick Hits: On to Calgary, Prospect Updates, Gritty 5K, and More

October 13, 2019, 8:16 PM ET [203 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Quick Hits: October 13, 2019

1) The Flyers will practice in Calgary on Monday in preparation for their game on Tuesday night against the Flames. It is not yet known whether Carter Hart or Brian Elliott will get the start in Calgary, but whichever one doesn't start against the Flames will likely go against the Oilers in Edmonton the next night.

2) Although the Kevin Hayes line has not yet broken through for an even strength goal, the line has created its share of chances in the first three games. However, the line with the best chemistry and productivity so far has clearly been the trio of Oskar Lindblom, Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny. On Saturday night, with the exception of right winger Tyler Pitlick, the Flyers fourth line (Michael Raffl at center, Connor Bunnaman at left wing) struggled. In the third period, though, Raffl drew the penalty on Vancouver that resulted in Lindblom's game-tying goal.

3) Tomorrow on the Flyers' official website, we will take a look at Matt Niskanen through the first three games of the season.

4) In the third period of Saturday's game, Alain Vigneault moved Jakub Voracek down to the fourth line (although he took his regular turn on the first power play unit and was also tabbed for the first round of the shootout). The in-game move is an example of something that Chris Therien noted in the most recent edition of the weekly Therien's Take blog series on the Flyers' official site: brand new coaches, especially veteran ones with pedigrees of success, often come in and try to push incumbent veterans out of their comfort zone. This is directed at the team as a whole and not just the individual player.

I would not expect that the line changes the Flyers featured in the third period in Vancouver will carry over to Tuesday. However, that is just speculation. It remains to be seen what Vigneault's lineup plan is to take on the Flames.

5) The Gritty 5K was held at the Wells Fargo Center and the Navy Yard on Sunday. Flyers social media was very active all day with photos from the event.



6) The collegiate hockey regular season is underway in most conferences. Below are some notes and news from the Flyers collegiate prospects:

* 2019 second-round pick Bobby Brink blasted home a goal in Denver's 4-3 win on Sunday. The winger already has four points (2g, 2a) on the young season.


* 2019 first-round pick Cam York, who had a pair of goals and seven shots on goal in an exhibition game last Saturday, suffered a lower-body injury in Michigan's regular season opener on Friday. He missed Saturday's game and is officially day-to-day.

* Western Michigan senior power forward Wade Allison scored an empty net goal in Saturday's 5-2 win over Bowling Green. Freshman defenseman Ronnie Attard tallied a power play goal midway through regulation for his first collegiate point. The previous night, Western Michigan dropped a 3-2 shootout decision (a 2-2 tie for record-keeping purposes) to Ohio State.

Senior Buckeyes forward Tanner Laczynski drew an eventual power play for his side on shorthanded rush in the latter stages of the third period and then assisted on the tying goal. Laczynski put a half-dozen shots on goal on Saturday but did not get on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win over RIT.

* Playing second-line left wing, sophomore North Dakota forward Gavin Hain had one assist in each of his team's weekend home blowout wins over Canisius; 5-0 on Friday, 8-1 on Saturday.

* Overshadowed by top Montreal Canadiens forward prospect Cole Caufield racking up four goals in his first two collegiate games, Wisconsin Badgers defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk chipped in three assists (one on Friday, two on Saturday) over the weekend. On Friday, Wisconsin dropped a 5-3 final to Boston College and the took it out the frustration on Merrimack, 11-5, the next night.

* Defending national champion Minnesota Duluth opened the regular season on Friday with a 5-2 loss to UMass Lowell. The Bulldogs evened the score on Saturday with a 2-1 win. Sophomore forward Noah Cates set up an early third period Scott Perunovich goal and then scored late in regulation on Friday, but it was too little and too late for his team to make a comeback push. Noah's older brother, Jackson Cates (who attended Flyers development camp this summer), earned the primary assist on the latter play.

* University of Minnesota freshman Bryce Brodzinski opened the season on the Golden Gophers' third line right wing. He did not record a point on Friday in a 3-2 loss to Colorado College (Minnesota took a 1-0 lead into the third period and later held a very short-lived 2-1 lead midway through the period before the game re-tied on the very next shift). On Saturday, Brodzinski earned a power play assist in the second period of a 4-3 Minnesota win in the rematch game with Colorado College.

7) BCHL: After rattling off 11 straight wins to start the season, the Penticton Vees suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday as they fell, 4-0, on the road against Alberni Valley. Flyers 2018 first-round pick Jay O'Brien had 11 points (3g, 8a) over his previous four games heading into this one. Despite being blanked on the scoresheet on Saturday, he is fourth in the league in scoring thus far with 20 points in 12 games.
Join the Discussion: » 203 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Bill Meltzer
» Flyers Gameday: 3/28/24 @ MTL
» Wrap: Flyers Lose 6-5 OT Game to Rangers
» Flyers Gameday: 3/26/24 @ NYR
» Quick Hits: Flyers-FLA Wrap, Flyers Daily, Phantoms, Bigger than Hockey
» Flyers Gameday: 3/24/2024 vs. FLA; Phantoms Update