Matty Berniers picked up a goal and an assist, Phillip Grubauer made 23 saves and the Flyers begin their season-long homestand 0-3-0. Let’s wrap:
Flyers Trade Laughton to Toronto, Johnson to Avalanche, and Kuzmenko to Kings
On NHL trade deadline day, the Flyers announced they have traded Scott Laughton to the Maple Leafs for Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 first round pick. Philadelphia also dealt depth defensemen Erik Johnson for deptyh forward Givani Smith and Andrei Kuzmenko to the Kings in exchange for 2027 3rd round pick.
Initial thoughts on the trade?
It is always tough to say goodbye to a player like Laughton. He’s a quality person on and off the ice. However, Briere and company did the right thing forward for this club moving forward though.
To acquire a first round pick and a prospect like Grebenkin is a good haul. Grebenkin, 21, is a big body with good hands and vision. Philly should benefit from adding more size, should he get a chance to play this season.
You can read more about the young Russian forward here.
With the trades, the Flyers have recalled Emil Andrae as well as forwards Rodrigo Abols and Olle Lycksell from the
the Phantoms.
Second Period Scares
Despite Owen Tippett scoring his 19th of the year to get the Flyers on the board early, the Flyers wouldn’t be able to contain Seattle in the second frame. The Kraken spent long stretches of play in the Flyers zone, beating Philly to loose pucks and maintaining offensive zone time.
“It’s going the wrong direction as each game has gone by, and we’ve gotten worse,” John Tortorella said. “So we’ve just got to keep working at our game. Got another chance tomorrow.”
At the 10:11 mark in the second period, Vince Dunn attempted to spring Tye Kartye with a long stretch pass. Kartye eventually corralled the puck before he skated behind the Flyers net and swung a harmless shot towards Ersson that found it’s way in. It did appear that Ersson was screened and never located the puck, as Rodrigo Abols ended up blocking the view of the goaltender.
The floodgates opened from there.
Seattle tacked on two additional goals, including a shorthanded tally from Chandler Stevenson late.
“Any time you give up a goal late in the period, it is tough,” Sean Couturier said. “All game long, we gave up a lot of odd-man rushes. We weren’t above the puck and it was ugly.
Nonetheless, Couturier did pickup an assist on the Philly’s lone goal. The Flyers captain now owns six points (2g, 4a) in his seven games.
They Said It
John Tortorella on Sam Ersson Losing his last three starts: “That’s part of his responsibility to handle it. He has got to just keep dealing with it and trying to get better, just like the team has to.”
Sean Couturier on the Energy and effort Level: “I don’t know if the effort’s the question, but maybe our sharpness, focus wasn’t that good.”
Travis Sanheim on what the Flyers Need to do to Start Winning Again: “We have to start putting together good, continuous shifts. Start to wear teams down. Hang onto more pucks and make more plays. Just gout our confidence back.”
Owen Tippett on Early Start and Trade Deadline: “It’s a part of the game to see guys go and watching guys come in. At the end of the day, whoever is in this room has to be ready to go. Doesn’t matter if the games begins at 12:30 or 7:00.”
Sam Ersson on Fighting through Screens: “That’s my job. As a goalie, you can never have that excuse that you don’t see the puck. It’s your job to find it, especially since our guys do such a good job blocking shots.”
Did You Know?
According to NHL stats, Matvei Michkov assist on Philadelphia’s game-opening goal improves his totals over his past 10 games to 6-7—13, which leads the Flyers as well as all rookies over that span.
On Deck
Quick turnaround for the Flyers, as they will return to action on Sunday with the New Jersey Devils coming to town. This set of weekend games marks the second of two home back-to-backs this season. Puck-drop is set 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on TNT.
