As the Flyers figure out when their second round series against the Carolina Hurricanes begins, Philadelphia head coach Rick Tocchet said Thursday to the media that the youth were vital to the team’s success.
The four of Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov, Denver Barkey, and Alex Bump had seven points combined (four goals, three assists) over the six-game battle of Pennsylvania. Michkov earned a primary assist on the game-winning goal by Cam York in overtime, and had a few quality chances to break the 0-0 deadlock. After a tough few games to start the series, Michkov was a healthy scratch for Game 5. The Russian responded in the way Tocchet wanted for the most part, but the coach felt it’s a process that any of those players mentioned above should try and grow from.
“Yeah of course, they’re called building blocks,” the coach said. “I’ve talked to you guys all year about it, I know he’s a lightning rod, and all that stuff. But he’s just a guy trying to build his game. We’re trying to help him like he’s trying to help himself. And I thought last night was a building block for him.
“There’s still some stuff that he has to work on like everybody, like Barks and Bump. He’s no different. And I think the building blocks (were) a great assist, a nice backhand pass to Yorky. So you got to give him some credit in some areas of the game, and he helped us last night. So can he build on that in the next game? That’s what it really comes down to, the building blocks.”
New series offers a fresh slate for Michkov
Michkov’s assist got him on the stat sheet for the first time all series, leaving Tyson Foerster as the lone Flyer outside of defenseman Emil Andrae (who played two games) with zero points through round one. Tocchet pointed to a current Winnipeg Jet and former Chicago captain as proof that even the best players have rough spots during the playoffs. Thus, it’s important that players struggling can look towards the next game or next series to start fresh, changing their fortunes on the ice.
“Absolutely, every game — even though it’s heightened in the playoffs, every game is a new game for a guy,” Tocchet said. “A guy could have a tough night or a couple of bad games and you can reset and get another opportunity in the playoffs. It’s huge.
“I don’t know if I know it correctly but Jonathan Toews, an unbelievable hockey player, I’m not sure he scored in two series when they won the Cup. I don’t think anybody knows that. All you know is he’s a great player who won the Stanley Cup and a great leader. I didn’t know that until it was brought to my attention about a year ago. So things might not go your way or you might not score a goal for six or seven games. But that new opportunity every game is important. Yeah we know we have some guys who have to get going, but it is a clean slate, and it’s 0-0 again. You can use that mentality too to energize yourself for the new game.”
Teaching tools for the Flyers’ youngsters
At the time of the presser, the Flyers still were waiting for the results from Thursday’s games to figure out the scheduling for Philadelphia and Carolina. Tocchet said some guys were eager to get going and carry the momentum from the Penguins win into Game 1 against a Canes team that might have some rust after a rather lengthy span between games. But he emphasized that whenever the series begins, the youth can’t be drowning in do’s and don’ts about a new (and far more talented) opponent going in. Essentially, keeping it simple is the route Tocchet believes works best.
“We’re in the war room all day talking about that,” he said. “Not a lot of information. There are some guys, like Ports is hitting a little bit of a wall. The last thing he needs is a ton of information. He probably needs a couple of points for his game to help his game. No different than the Bumps, the Michkovs of the world. So a little bit less is more. But the points that we’re giving them have to be heightened. Instead of six or seven points, give them two points but these are really important two points that you’re going to have to do especially against Carolina. That might help, especially the young guys.”
Michkov has the most experience against Carolina. In seven regular games he has three points (one goal, two assists). Both Martone and Barkey had an assist each in the Flyers’ playoff clinching victory over Carolina on April 13. And Bump hasn’t played against them before. Regardless of what transpires, it’s another terrific opportunity for these players (and others navigating their maiden playoff voyage) to embrace the pressure and see what they can do. Many aren’t suspecting a Flyers upset over Carolina, so the team is playing with a little more house money than they were a week ago.