Rick Tocchet Gives Flyers Lines a Major Change at Center; Did it Work on Thursday?

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet put the team’s forward lines in the blender before Thursday’s matchup with the Boston Bruins, including a major change for captain Sean Couturier. There were no forward lines that carried over from Wednesday’s loss.

The biggest shakeup is that Sean Couturier, the Flyers’ captain, was moved from his second-line center role to the fourth line. Trevor Zegras was moved from his top-line left wing role to the third-line center spot. Noah Cates moved up a line. The middle-six wingers remained the same.

Nikita Grebenkin took Zegras’ spot on the wing on the top line. Garnet Hathaway and Nick Deslauriers drew in to the fourth-line right and left wings, respectively. This is what the Flyers’ forward lines looked like on Wednesday.

Flyers forward lines vs. Bruins

Nikita Grebenkin–Christian Dvorak–Travis Konecny
Denver Barkey–Noah Cates–Owen Tippett
Matvei Michkov–Trevor Zegras–Bobby Brink
Nick Deslauriers–Sean Couturier–Garnet Hathaway

I was hesitant to write this story before the game started. Given how line changes have gone this season, the new lines could have been reverted to the constant at any point.

To my surprise, the lines lasted the entire game.

Again, the major change came down the middle. For the most part, the wings remained the same. It was really Sean Couturier’s move to the fourth line and Trevor Zegras’ return to center.

So, did the change help the Flyers?

Lines in the blender are no help for the Flyers

The Flyers scored three goals on Thursday. One came on the power play, another came on a breakaway. The third came as a result of a lucky Bruins’ turnover, leaving Philadelphia in prime position for a goal.

Yes, the Flyers made a major shake-up to their forward lines. However, their three goals on Thursday were not the result of sustained play by a new trio of forwards. Instead, their three goals were all the result of the Flyers taking advantage of opportunities given to them by the Bruins.

Each new forward group was on the ice for at least one goal. Of the five goals against a goalie, two of them came with the Dvorak line on the ice.

After the game, Tocchet said he switched the lines just trying to give them a spark. It feels safe to say that they did not find that.

If any forward found anything from the line change, it was Nikita Grebenkin. Grebenkin looked fantastic on Thursday. To be fair, he has looked better and better the past few games, but Thursday seemed like a whole new player.

Grebenkin was everywhere. He was generating good chances, playing well defensively, and seemed to always be around the play. His excellent play rewarded him with a goal.

Travis Konecny, of course, has been the Flyers’ hot hand, scoring four goals in the team’s last two games. He has most definitely stepped up his game recently.

As for everyone else, it’s still quiet. The change was good, and maybe another game or two will show results. However, they were anything but impressive on Thursday.

What about the defense? And goaltending?

The forwards were lackluster on Thursday. Yet, somehow, they scored three goals. That is enough to at least be competitive in the game. When you give up six goals, you never had a chance.

Once again, the Flyers had a major lapse defensively. Let’s look at this from the goal out.

Sam Ersson gave up five goals on 20 shots. Not an ideal stat line, especially if you want to give the team a chance to win. The two goals I don’t put on Ersson are the Zacha and Mittelstadt goals.

Zacha walked through the slot unmanned and had an easy look. NHLers don’t miss those. On the Mittelstadt goal, Ersson had made a handful of big stops before that, and nobody was there to keep Mittelstadt from coming in and cleaning up, not on Ersson.

At the same time, the Arvidsson goal is one that he has to stop, as with Minten’s goal. Neither was particularly difficult, and Ersson would stop if given a second chance. To win games, you have to stop the low-danger chances.

But again, the team defense put the goaltender at a disadvantage.

Cam York and Jamie Drysdale were on the ice for three of the Bruins’ six goals, though one was the empty-netter. Nick Seeler and Noah Juulsen were on the ice for Jeannot and Minten’s goals. Sanheim and Ristolainen were on the ice for Arvidsson’s.

Again, the defense just has to be better in front. Every Flyer was on the ice for at least one Bruins’ goal. That is not a good stat.

With three games to go before the break, the Flyers still have lots to clean up, or the season outlook will grow darker.

Rick Tocchet Gives Flyers Lines a Major Change at Center; Did it Work on Thursday?

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