Highlights Beyond Highlights - Opening Weekend

FRIDAY

Jett Luchanko’s first NHL shift was not going to be one where he just went out for a spin to get his feet wet. Luchanko hit the ice just over 75 seconds into the Vancouver game and immediately descended upon two Canuck forwards, forcing a turnover that sent the play the other way. It was the first of several excellent plays in the contest by Luchanko, who became the youngest player in Flyers history to appear in a contest.

The Flyers’ penalty kill is picking up right where it left off last year in terms of being dangerous offensively while also showing no hesitation to sacrifice the body. In this sequence, Ryan Poehling blocks a shot and turns that into a scoring chance for Travis Konecny. Then on Vancouver’s very next trip up the ice, Garnet Hathaway lunges in front of a bid that could have been a problem, sending it into the end netting.

While many eyes are on Luchanko and Matvei Michkov, other Flyers are poised to take their next step – certainly one of which is Tyson Foerster. This is the first of a couple patented sneaky shots that he took over the first two games. His release of this shot is unique, and hopefully is something that will start to give goaltenders problems.

SATURDAY

In every game Matvei Michkov has played going back to the rookie game in Allentown a month ago, he has appeard to improve as the game has gone on. Michkov had perhaps his best first period in that month’s time on Saturday in Calgary. On the game’s first shift, he was cycling with Morgan Frost and Travis Konecny, and found Frost in the slot for a great chance. Michkov forced the defenseman to reach and then played the puck back through him to find Frost.

Then later in the first period, Michkov tracked back through the neutral zone and simply took a puck from Nazem Kadri, who’s not bad. Michkov then charged the other way before setting up Konency for a chance.

Finally for opening weekend, a look at Joel Farabee’s goal. Obviously the highlight of this goal was Bobby Brink’s elevated pass through traffic right onto Farabee’s tape. The highlight beyond the highlight is Sean Couturier coming down the middle, where he gets a stick under the Calgary player who’s both defending him and trying to block any crosses. Couturier nullifies the defenseman, allowing the pass to make it through to Farabee.