VOORHEES, NJ – All signs of Saturday morning skateboarding pointed to the 2019-20 Flyers top scorer and top scorer being booked for tonight’s game against the Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center.
Travis Konecny was not in any power play unit in practice, as he stood aside and skated with the other apparent scratches (Robert Hagg, Nate Prosser and Brian Elliott) after the morning session.
Samuel Morin, the club’s 13th striker who has yet to play a game this season, led the team’s post-workout stretches. Usually, when a player leads stretches, there is some kind of meaning to that. In addition, teammates often hit with sticks or cheer during that time, depending on the reason, but it was a very calm and moderate Saturday due to Konecny’s circumstances appearing to be out of the team.
Coach Alain Vigneault confirmed in his pre-match media availability at 4:45 pm ET that Konecny would be scratched tonight.
“I believe that TK is one of our three strikers with enormous potential, he is doing some right things, like going to the net, stopping and scoring some goals for us,” said Vigneault. “But I also believe that at the moment our 5 on 5 game is not where it should be. I have been talking to the players about this for some time now, areas that I believe we need to be better at, areas where we have been good in the past. TK is the the only one tonight that will not play. His 5 on 5 game needs to be better in the areas he knows, I had a good conversation with him this morning and hope that, the next time he gets back on the team, he plays the right way . ”
Konecny did not have a shot on goal and had two awards in 17:33 minutes of the Flyers’ 3-1 win on Thursday over the Devils. He played only 4:20 in the third period and played for about 30 seconds in the final five minutes of the game. After the game, Vigneault was dissatisfied and perplexed by the performance of his two front lines in the first two periods.
Getting Morin to play on a consecutive set would be one thing, but doing so at the expense of Konecny’s squad placement says something. This is the Flyers’ first game against the team that eliminated them in Game 7 of the second round of the Stanley Cup 2020 Playoffs.
This is a strong message sent by Vigneault nine games in the 2020-21 season. Konecny was an All-Star last season and led the Flyers in goals (24) and points (61) in 66 games. The 23-year-old has five goals, three assists and a plus-5 mark in the first eight games of the season.
“There is a bigger game, there is a 200-foot game that you need to play,” said Vigneault. “Tonight he will have the opportunity to zero and I am sure that the next time he is in the squad he will be very good for us.”
The message is not only sent to Konecny, but also to the entire Flyers squad. Despite the 5-2-1 start, the Flyers were defeated in seven of their eight games, with five of them by double-digit margins. Last season, the Flyers allowed the least number of NHL pitches per game.
“I have talked about this with the group a few times – not a few times, basically after each game – about our need to play better 5 against 5. Our need to do the right things, to play the right way,” said Vigneault. ” My intention, and I came here to Philadelphia to win a Stanley Cup, and to win a Stanley Cup, there is a certain way to play. I’m talking to the advanced group especially now. I think our D is trying really hard to play it right. We will not be perfect, we will not be perfect in defense and attack, but there is a certain way that you need to play, certain decisions that you need to make with and without the puck. That’s what I’m here for and that’s what I’m going to get out of this group. “
Philippe Myers will return on Saturday night with a fractured rib. He skated alongside Travis Sanheim and is ready to go. Carter Hart will start on the net, while Brian Elliott is expected to play his second consecutive match on Sunday.
More: Morin prepares to face the player he studied ‘a lot’ during his change of position
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