Today, the Philadelphia Flyers continued the 2024 Training Camp (reference for scrimmage teams, courtesy of Eric Reese) with the first hour consisting of conditioning, and then the scrimmages.
This time, the rink was packed all the way around and even spilled outside where the Flyers were hosting a barbeque during scrimmages.
The players notice. Matvei Michkov looked prepared to make an impact and ready for the preseason on the third day of training camp. In front of a packed house at the Flyers Training Camp, Michkov acknowledged the turnout of fans and support:
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to see the fans already showing up. It helps, actually, through the hard training. Sometimes it’s just, we’re doing it for the fans, and it helps overall. It’s an unbelievable feeling. He [I] never saw that many of the jersey’s with his name.” – Matvei Michkov via Slava Kuznetsov; 9/21/2024
Despite another day of grueling exercise before scrimmages, Michkov seemed pleasantly fine with the skating drills from John Tortorella and the rest of the coaching staff.
Additionally, Travis Konecny felt the love from the fans at the Flyers Training Center. He felt the intensity ramp up yesterday, getting into a scrum with Travis Sanheim, but that’s where the players want the energy. It is an energy that is infectious from the players on the ice to the fans outside of the rink:
“I pulled in today. I didn’t know where to go because there was so much going on in the parking lot. It’s great. It was good to see everyone out there today.” – Travis Konecny; 9/21/2024
Everyone is giving it their all in training camp. The message is getting through to the players expected to start and the prospects battling for spots. Owen Tippett pointed out there is more work to do, but overall, this is a strong start to training camp:
“You can’t take a step back. You got to come in and put the work in. [The] work isn’t done. It’s been a great camp so far, I think all the guys have rallied with each other and stuck through it together. It’s been a lot of fun so far.” – Owen Tippett; 9/21/2024
Tippett was not wrong, and it only got better. Well, sort of…
Scrimmage: Team 2 vs. Team 3
Overall, a sloppy scrimmage. It appeared some skaters experienced protagonist syndrome, trying to do way too much with the puck on their stick. Due to that, Michkov did not get many great puck touches or opportunities. A few times, Michkov held onto the puck too long, but on the whole, Team 2 got carried away.
In a shootout, Michkov was stuffed while trying a backhand finish. He was noticeably frustrated that he didn’t score to appease the fans this time, but had a good sense of humor about it:
“[I] made it to the net today on the penalty shot, that’s very good. Next time, I’m going to score.” – Matvei Michkov via Slava Kuznetsov; 9/21/2024
Joel Farabee did not struggle. He forwarded a pass to Rodrigo Ābols, who made a nice move in tight to give Team 2 a lead. In this scrimmage, Farabee regularly generated scoring chances.
Jett Luchanko made NHL plays on the ice. He pounced on the loose puck behind the net and found Farabee for a high-danger scoring chance. If Luchanko continues at this pace in training camp, he may get a look sooner than anticipated.
Massimo Rizzo scored the shootout game-winner for Team 3, defeating Team 2, 2-1.
Scrimmage: Team 1 vs. Team 3
Nicolas Deslauriers matched up against the line of Tyson Foerster, Sean Couturier, and Konecny.
This scrimmage began with a snipe by Deslauriers. No joke. Couturier looked like the version of himself from the first half of last season, however, and his line dominated on the ice.
Couturier sauced a pass to Nick Capone, who tied the scrimmage. Then, the Couturier line made another play, this time when Foerster cleaned up a rebound to give Team 1 a lead.
The second scrimmage was scrappy, carrying the same energy the scrum initiated yesterday. Throughout the day, Bobby Brink commanded attention. He fought hard along the boards and nearly added a goal, denied by the post. Spencer Gill also looked impressive due to his skating and blue-line rule.
Deslauriers, suddenly a known goal scorer, potted his second of the scrimmage, 2-2. Like the scrimmage prior, this went to a shootout. Each team went through a cartoonish amount of skaters before Scott Laughton secured another win for Team 3, 3-2.
Tomorrow, the Flyers travel to visit the Washington Capitals for a preseason clash at 3pm.
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