Last night, the Philadelphia Flyers fell to the New York Rangers, 4-3, in a shootout to begin the 2024 Rookie Series.
However, in the loss, the rookies inspired hope. The prospects everyone expected to stand out did. Other prospects stepped up, encouraging their development on track, or as a new draft selection, they were a valuable pick. Samu Tuomaala and Jon-Randall Avon were agile, creating space and skating through to generate scoring chances throughout last night. Spencer Gill, a late second-round selection at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, logged an assist and contributed to a penalty kill that finished 3/4 on the night.
Jett Luchanko and Matvei Michkov, on a five-on-three powerplay, gave the Flyers their only lead. These two represent the primary first-round selections of their draft classes in 2023 and 2024. Both of these players on the top forward line last night were buzzing, contagious with Elliot Desnoyers. Ian Laperrière advised in his postgame press conference that Michkov will not play in the second game tonight:
“We had so many penalties in the second period, he [Michkov] didn’t touch the ice as much as we like to, but in the third, I double shift him, and everybody likes to play a lot, but he’s in great shape, so he can handle it. He made plays on the powerplay, five-on-five, plays out of nothing, and that’s a special gift that he’s got. I can’t wait to see his development. He’s not playing tomorrow, so I won’t coach him tomorrow.” – Ian Laperrière; 9/13/2024
Carson Bjarnason tended the net throughout regulation, overtime, and the shootout. Joining him at the 2024 Flyers Rookie Camp is Sam Hillebrandt. Hillebrandt spent last season with the Barrie Colts in the OHL, finishing with a 16-15-2 record, a 3.67GAA, and an 89.9%SV during the regular season, then a 2-2-1 record, a 2.48GAA, and a 93.8%SV in the postseason.
Tonight, Philadelphia aims to split the 2024 Rookie Series versus the Rangers. Hillebrandt may get the entire start in the net after Bjarnason.
Projected Lineup (Philadelphia Flyers):
#73 Elliot Desnoyers – #17 Jett Luchanko – #83 Matt Miller
#62 Josh Zakreski – #63 Massimo Rizzo – #56 Samu Tuomaala
#92 Alexis Gendron – #85 J-R Avon – #80 Santeri Sulku
#60 Zayde Wisdom – #78 Jacob Gaucher – #46 Sawyer Boulton
#36 Emil Andrae – #3 Helge Grans
#41 Hunter McDonald – #42 Spencer Gill
#58 Emile Chouinard – #76 Matteo Mann
#64 Carson Bjarnason
(#34 Sam Hillebrandt)
There was not a morning skate. Tonight, the game will stream on the Flyers team website. The puck drops at 5:05pm.
