Flyers coach Tocchet didn’t mince words after Tuesday night’s brutal overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, calling the decision-making from some players “mind boggling.” The Orange and Black were sent home thanks to a second 2-on-0 break in overtime, a truly wild finish that highlighted what seems to be a frustrating pattern for this team.
From Down and Out to Game-Tying Grit
Talk about a rollercoaster. The Flyers started the game looking like they were still in the parking lot, falling behind 3-0 in the first period and managing just two shots on goal. Seriously, *two shots* in twenty minutes? That’s just not going to cut it in this league. But, credit where it’s due, they didn’t just fold. Starting in the second period, something clicked. They actually started making passes, winning battles, and finally, Noah Cates found the back of the net for his first goal of the season. That came midway through the second, on their *seventh* shot of the game, against a goalie in Cam Talbot who had an .891 save percentage coming in and even contemplated retirement in the offseason. Porter Martone deserves props for driving that play, getting the zone entry and putting the puck on net to create the scramble. They kept pushing, battling back to earn a point with Jamie Drysdale driving the net for their latest game-tying goal of the season, sending the crowd into a standing ovation. You love to see that fight.
The Overtime Horror Show No One Saw Coming (Again)
But then, overtime. Oh, man. Goalie Dan Vladar wasn’t exactly sharp early, letting in those weak goals that dug the 3-0 hole. While they might have pulled him on a normal night, Joseph Woll stayed glued to the bench with a back-to-back in Washington looming on Wednesday. Vladar eventually settled down, making some key saves to keep them in it, and even made a fantastic stop in overtime on a 2-on-0. You don’t see those often, even in 3-on-3! You *really* don’t expect to see two in one game. But that’s exactly what happened. Matvei Michkov left his man and crashed the net, leaving the poor netminder exposed again. Another two-man attack. Another 2-on-0. And this one sealed their fate. Game over. Just like that. It’s the kind of play that makes you want to throw your remote.
Tocchet summed it up perfectly, saying, “The decision making in overtime this year has been mind boggling for some players, we got to fix it. Quickly.” And he’s not wrong. This team has a long-standing history of struggling in overtime and even the shootout until last season. They just can’t seem to find those dangerous combinations when it matters most, and when you combine that with “mind boggling” decisions, you’re just asking for trouble.
They’ve got to fix it, and they’ve got to fix it fast, especially with a back-to-back coming up Wednesday night in Washington. Can they regroup and clean up these fundamental issues before they bury their early season?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Broad Street Hockey.
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