4 Blown Leads, 3 Keys: What the Flyers Need in Vancouver

The Flyers have blown four leads in their last two games. They took a 2-1 lead into the third period at Madison Square Garden and lost 3-2. Then they led Calgary three separate times and lost 4-3 in overtime. That is three straight losses and six in their last seven, and they head into Vancouver tonight at 4-10-5.

This is the night it has to stop. The Canucks are 3-15-1, have lost five straight, are 1-7-0 at home and have allowed a league-worst 87 goals. It is also Rick Tocchet’s return to Vancouver, with Joseph Woll in net on the second night of a back-to-back. I broke down both of Calgary’s 5v5 goals and a Michkov shift on film, then laid out the three things I’m watching tonight.

Key 1: The Zegras line has to win its minutes

▶ Play this part of the breakdown (0:32)

Calgary scored twice at 5v5 on Sunday, Zayne Parekh and Zach Whitecloud. Trevor Zegras, Cole Knuble and Owen Tippett were on the ice for both. No other Flyers forward line gave up a 5v5 goal.

That wasn’t bad luck. In under 10 minutes together at 5v5, that line was out-attempted 14 to 7, and Knuble won 1 of 7 faceoffs. Tippett finished at 34% of shot attempts, Knuble at 35% and Zegras at 38%. If they’re together tonight, they have to be tougher in their own end. Win the battle on the wall, get the puck out, and stop chasing.

The contrast is the checking line. Sean Couturier, Noel Acciari and Denver Barkey outscored opponents 3-1 at 5v5 over the last two games. Right now that group is carrying the offense while the skill line loses its shifts.

Key 2: Michkov, move the puck and then move your feet

▶ Play this part of the breakdown (4:25)

Matvei Michkov has played 32 minutes over the last two games, including 4:20 on the power play. He has zero shot attempts.

It isn’t because the puck is going the wrong way. In Calgary the Flyers out-attempted the Flames 9 to 6 with him on the ice. The shift in the video shows the issue. After a turnover in the D-zone he makes a great play to break it out and helps lead the rush. Then he pulls up, makes the pass and stops moving. The puck goes to the defenseman and over to Porter Martone, who looks for someone open, has nobody, and shoots it into the goalie’s glove.

The first instinct after he moves it has to be to go get open again. Drive, find the soft ice, give Martone an option. Martone is in the same spot himself, with 4 shot attempts worth 0.10 expected goals over two games. The young wingers need each other moving.

Key 3: Close it out in regulation

▶ Play this part of the breakdown (6:40)

At MSG, a slashing call late in the third led to Pavel Dorofeyev’s power-play goal to tie it, and Tye Kartye scored the winner 89 seconds later. In Calgary, the second power-play unit scored with Tippett’s goal and then gave up Joel Farabee’s shorthanded breakaway to tie it in the third. Once it got to 3-on-3, it was a coin flip.

The Flyers outshot Calgary 35-26 and still lost. At 4-10-5, good process isn’t enough. Stay out of the box late, keep the puck safe on the power play, and stop handing back leads.

What I’d like to see tonight

• Zegras, Tippett and Knuble winning their minutes, especially in the D-zone
• Michkov with at least three shot attempts, and moving after every pass
• A lead that survives the third period

Which key matters most tonight? Let me know in the comments. The player and team cards for everyone in this piece are at broadstbreakout.com/players.

Stats via InStat (games of Nov. 5 and Nov. 8) and NHL.com. Shot totals are official NHL counts; attempts, xG and line data are InStat.