Philadelphia Flyers: Team Practices Hard After Captain Calls Play 'Soft'

The Philadelphia Flyers have lost two of their last three games, a slump that prompted a hard practice session at their training center in Voorhees, New Jersey, on Friday. The team is trying to correct specific mechanical errors that have surfaced during a recent skid.

The Flyers sit with a 3-8-4 record, a standing that head coach Rick Tocchet says is not acceptable. He emphasized that the team must avoid digging a hole from which it is difficult to escape. The schedule has been demanding, with four games played in six nights, a pace that has affected younger players.

The intensity of Friday’s drills followed a loss to the Washington Capitals. After that game, captain Sean Couturier described the team’s recent performance as “soft.” Tocchet noted that while the word is not unusual in professional hockey, it caught the attention of the roster. The team held a pre-practice meeting to discuss the comments and align on a message.

Tocchet stated that the core issue is a lack of desire to win possession. He said the video review showed players holding the puck without sufficient support from teammates. “We just have to understand when a team makes a push, we have to push back,” Tocchet said. He added that the video showed a lack of players wanting the puck, leading to isolated possession.

Porter Martone, a young defenseman, spoke with Tocchet after the Washington game to explain that he did not have his legs for the first two periods. Tocchet acknowledged the physical toll of the schedule on players new to such workloads. He suggested that sometimes a neutral shift is the right choice, and that the team must handle adversity and expectations better.

Veteran forward Nick Seeler echoed the sentiment from Couturier. Seeler said the team needs to return to the cohesive style they displayed during the final month of last season. “We’re a team here, we’re in it together,” Seeler said. He expressed hope that the team can weather this period and get back into contention for a strong finish.

Defenseman Noah Cates highlighted the team’s approach to problem solving. He said the coaching staff uses video to show details that can be improved. Cates noted that the leadership comments resonated with the group. “We just can’t be fragile,” Cates said. He added that the game is messy and players must back each other up.

Both Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett, who are on the injury list, practiced on Friday. Konecny wore a yellow no-contact jersey but participated in drills, particularly in the second half of the session. Tocchet said Konecny is a possibility to play in Sunday’s home game against Utah. The coach noted that the presence of a veteran on the ice helps, as the team is asking a lot from its young players early in their careers.