Tag: Alain Vigneault

If you thought it couldn’t get any worse than that, the Flyers had another thing in store for you on Saturday. A close game on the scoreboard unraveled again and the Flyers were left to pick up the pieces from another embarrassing effort and loss. It presents a lot of questions as the team moves forward, watching their start of three wins in four games completely fade away.

The Flyers got an outstanding performance from Brian Elliott in goal. They got clutch goals when they needed them the most to take control of the game on the scoreboard. They lost two more players due to injury, and await the update on both, but saw players step up in big situations. Here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s 3-0 Flyers win over the Sabres.

Whatever the reason, it is no excuse. The Flyers didn’t have it on Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres. That’s a game they can no longer get back. The good news is that they get back on the ice right away against the same team with a chance to prove otherwise. It would certainly take a lot to replicate the way this game went. Here are 5 takeaways from Monday’s blowout loss to the Sabres.

The good: the Flyers did not play close to their best on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins and still won 5-2. The bad: it was a sloppy game throughout, a game that required goaltending to be at its best and may have cost the Flyers their top forward.

Travis Konency recorded his first career hat trick, and Carter Hart backstopped the Flyers with 31 saves in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Wells Fargo Center on Friday night.

There were returning players who certainly made their triumphant return. There were standout performances from young players. There were contributions across the board. Even in a game that was far from perfect, the Flyers showcased what their potential could be. Here are 5 takeaways from Wednesday’s season-opening Flyers win against the Penguins.

The start of a new season is finally upon us. The Flyers make their return on Wednesday night when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before they do, let’s take a look at 10 storylines that will be worth watching as the season progresses.

The final day before the start of the 2020-21 season is here, and that means roster decisions are due. The Flyers have officially announced their roster for opening night of the 2020-21 season.

What Alain Vigneault has brought in that time has been refreshing. For the better part of a decade, the Flyers lacked a coach that seemed to challenge a steady core group of players, that didn’t demand the same excellence the fans did, that was satisfied with a participation award in the playoffs, but never advancing. That’s not Vigneault’s style.

Seven players from the 41-man training camp roster were placed on waivers for the purposes of going to the AHL or taxi squad that will allow the Flyers to make recalls much easier in this unprecedented season.

Preparations continued for the start of the Flyers season in a matter of four days. An intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday will be treated like a game day and it gives the coaching staff a chance to really evaluate the players in game conditions.

One of the subjects that was discussed a lot during the playoff run over the summer was the lack of success for the Flyers power play. That was an area of focus during training camp on Friday, as the team returned to the ice after an off day on Thursday.

In these unknown times, one thing has not changed for the Flyers. There are expectations this year, higher than they have been in quite some time. After making a playoff run this summer that came one win short of a conference final appearance, there is no turning back for the franchise. The goal is not just about playoffs, it is about making another run.

Shayne Gostisbehere admitted he hasn’t been healthy in quite some time and that even returning during the summer showed he wasn’t where he wanted to be. In a pre-camp conversation with Vigneault, he simply wanted to express that he was healthy and wanted to help the Flyers win.

The transition to playing left wing will be a work in progress for Sam Morin, who is trying his best to learn on the fly. He continues to watch film of Matt Martin, and took some advice from Danny Briere during practice as well as talking to other teammates about the position as well.

On the first day of Flyers training camp, it didn’t take long to notice the two players whose presence stood out the most. Nolan Patrick was back on the ice as a regular member of the rotation, as was Oskar Lindblom.

It’s been over 650 days since Nolan Patrick played in a game. With Chuck Fletcher, Alain Vigneault and Flyers teammates all sounding hopeful to get Patrick back for this season, his condition will still require careful monitoring and expectations for his on-ice performance should be curbed.

Claude Giroux has been captain of the Flyers for eight seasons, his ninth set to begin on Jan. 13, the day after his 33rd birthday. Giroux’s career has had its peaks and valleys from a production standpoint, but he’s remained durable, very rarely missing action, and is respected as a leader by his teammates. To him, the age he will reach one day before the season opener is nothing but a number.

As 2020 draws to a close, here are some of the topics discussed in the State of the Flyers, a short playing year with a lot of progress made.

Shortly after the NHL released the schedule, Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher spoke to the media, covering a range of topics surrounding the 2020-21 roster and how the Flyers will manage things in a shortened season.

For Kevin Hayes, a newcomer to the Flyers last season, this was the reason he had signed in Philadelphia. He wanted a chance to win and saw the potential the Flyers really offered as a key part of their success, and he believes that last season’s playoff run is only scratching the surface.

The Flyers were relatively inactive in free agency, adding newcomer Erik Gustafsson on the blue line, but not making any other significant additions. Perhaps that’s because the significant additions that could come may be internal.

Alain Vigneault’s second season as Flyers head coach will begin next month on Jan. 13, when the NHL opens the 2020-21 season. The 56-game condensed schedule, realigned divisions, empty arenas and shortened training camp present a new set of challenges.

The NHL may be expanding rosters to a maximum of 29 available players with four to six on a “taxi squad.” With the expanded rosters, there are a number of Flyers prospects that could get a new opportunity to make the team.

The Dallas Stars clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Final on Monday and could be joined by one of the two teams left in the East on Tuesday. Also a look at a new coaching hire in the Metropolitan Division as a familiar face goes to Washington.

Alain Vigneault addressed the media on Monday for the first time since the Flyers lost Game 7 to the Islanders nine days ago. His comments focused on a bright future ahead. “I believe that we’re on the right track as far as moving forward to win a Stanley Cup,” Vigneault said.

Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher had his exit day media availability on Thursday afternoon and touched on a number of topics from the progress of the season, what went wrong in the playoffs and what’s ahead for the Flyers in the offseason.

The winner of the Jack Adams Award was announced on Wednesday night, with Boston Bruins’ head coach Bruce Cassidy taking home the honor. Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault finished a close second in the voting. Columbus Blue Jackets’ head coach John Tortorella was the other finalist and finished third.

Cherry Hill, NJ native Bobby Ryan was named the winner of the Masterton Memorial Trophy, presented to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom was also a finalist.