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Here are two dos and don'ts from Flyers' loss to Rangers
The Flyers lost 6-1 to the New York Rangers on Thursday, but, according to coach John Tortorella, "when you look at the score, not a chance that was the way the game was played." So how was it played?
Here are two dos and don'ts from the Flyers' loss before they face the New York Islanders Friday night.
Do: Play the fourth line more
This is a must for the high-energy line. Anthony Richard, Garnet Hathaway, and Rodrigo Ābols had the best shot attempt (77.78%) and scoring chance differentials (87.5%) in the game while getting five high-danger chances to none against.
"I thought we got to the net like we needed to. ... I thought we outworked them in their zone and I thought we outworked them in our D zone, too," said Hathaway, who had three hits and three shots.
Ābols had four shots, three hits and won nine of 10 faceoffs. "I hope he can keep it at that level," Tortorella said.
Do: Keep throwing Richard out there
Richard impressed again. He had five shot attempts, two were high-danger, and Philly had 61.29% more shot attempts than New York when he was on the ice. He brought "not just speed but quickness," said Tortorella.
Don't: Keep allowing high-danger chances
The shot attempts favored the Flyers (61-57) at five-on-five, but Sam Ersson faced seven from high danger. It was the most since he saw eight in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Jan. 9 — with a combined 11 in the five games in between.
Ersson was hard on himself after the loss. "Just got to find a way to come up with more key saves. ... I've got to play a little bit better," he said.
But the goalie faced 36 shots, the most since Feb. 17, 2024. Several of the Rangers' goals were on tips and deflections, including the dagger by Filip Chytil to make it 4-1.
Don't: Give up
In all likelihood, the score would have been quite different if anyone but Igor Shesterkin was in net. The Flyers had 33 shots at five-on-five with 11 coming from high-danger spots. Another eight were mid-range and 11 from low-danger.
"We had some Grade A looks," defenseman Travis Sanheim said. "Unfortunate that we couldn't capitalize on them."
Sanheim added rebounded chances and pucks up top — with traffic in front — probably would have helped. Yes, and getting more shots on the power play (three hit the net and three missed) would've help too.