Flyers thumbs: Sam Ersson stands tall, Sean Couturier still not back to top speed in preseason loss to Bruins

BOSTON ― “This is going to be our game where most of our guys play.”

That was John Tortorella’s reply when asked whether Tuesday’s penultimate preseason game, against the Boston Bruins, would serve as the Flyers’ last real dress rehearsal before the team opens up the regular season on Oct. 11 in Vancouver. The Flyers play one final preseason game Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center, but that game against the Devils will feature mostly, and in New Jersey’s case — due to their participation in the Global Series in Czechia — all prospects and minor league guys. In other words, Tuesday provided one last glimpse at how the Flyers could line up to the open season, and a decent measuring stick, as much as preseason games can be anyway, against a good Boston team that also dressed most of their regulars.

Here’s who stood out for the Flyers both positively and negatively in a sluggish 4-1 loss to the Bruins.

» READ MORE: Flyers taking a good look at winger Anthony Richard, who could fill a need for speed

Sam Ersson: For most of the first two periods, Ersson was probably the only Flyer truly deserving of an “up” nod. The Swede stopped 16 shots in the first period, including several high-danger chances on the doorstep (he made eight high-danger saves for the game), and could hardly be blamed for the lone goal of the frame after a complete defensive zone coverage bust by his teammates left Boston’s Justin Brazeau wide open at the backdoor for a tap-in. Ersson made 30 saves on 32 shots but maybe the most impressive aspect was the manner in which he commanded his crease throughout the evening.

“I think it’s been important for me to kind of keep the same mindset, like really push for me not getting comfortable with anything,” Ersson said about the difference between coming in as the No. 1 goalie vs. just trying to make the team last year “Nothing is going to be given to me. So I have to, like same thing, I got to earn everything. ... So just keep pushing for myself and try to get better.”

The 24-year-old was very controlled and efficient with his movement post-to-post Tuesday and on more than one occasion he displayed great patience in waiting for the Boston shooters to make the first move. Tortorella may have said his goaltending tandem of Ersson and Ivan Fedotov “scares the crap out of me” but there was nothing scary about Ersson’s performance here. While goaltending remains a big question entering the season, the ever-calm Ersson looked every part of a No. 1 goalie in both of his preseason starts.

“That’s two in a row for Ers that I thought he’s played very well … He should feel really good about the two starts he’s got in the exhibition series,” added Tortorella.

Travis Konecny: The Flyers leading goal scorer the past two seasons opened his preseason account by pouncing on a rebound from a Matvei Michkov shot midway through the second period. While preseason goals don’t count for much, it’s always nice when your top scorer sees one go in and starts the season with some momentum. Beyond the goal, Konecny was his typical energetic self, battling in front of the net, being a pest, and throwing himself into checks, including one where he looked like he got a face full of glass. The Flyers will be counting on Konecny for 30 goals again this year and he was one of the team’s most dangerous forwards on this night, especially after being moved to a line with Michkov and Morgan Frost in the second period.

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Anthony Richard: It was an uneven night for Richard against his former team, as he had a few early giveaways, couldn’t seem to settle the puck down on other occasions, and was whistled for a goaltender interference infraction that was “dubious” at best. Those are things that usually spell doom for a guy competing for one of the team’s final roster spots. But Richard turned it around with a very noticeable third period that included him hitting 20 miles per hour on a breakaway attempt and later forcing a turnover to set up Sean Couturier for a golden chance to tie the game with a few minutes remaining. Richard’s speed continues to pop and impress Tortorella. We’ll see if it is enough for the 27-year-old to break camp with the big club.

“Yeah, Richie, good speed. We’re hoping he can bring some offense, said Tortorella afterward. “Not sure if he starts with us, but he’s a guy that we’re interested in. He’s had a good camp.”

Sean Couturier: Couturier continues to look like a shell of his former Selke Trophy-winning self after two back surgeries in recent years and an abdominal procedure this summer. The most notable thing is the lack of foot speed as the captain just doesn’t look to have his legs back at this point. Maybe that can be partially attributed to a long and grueling training camp but the Flyers will hope Couturier, 31, progresses as the real games begin.

“I feel healthy. Body feels good. I just got to get my energy going and feel good for the opener,” Couturier said afterward. “Obviously, work on execution, making more plays. But I’m pretty confident it all come together as the next couple days, a week, come by.”

While Couturier’s effort or want-to can’t be questioned, the Flyers need him to chip in offensively if they are to take a step forward this season. Couturier did manage one big chance late in the game but was thwarted by a Brandon Bussi right-pad save. The Flyers value Couturier’s leadership but given his contract — six years remaining at $7.75 million — they need him to be productive as a top-two center given the team’s lack of depth down the middle.

Travis Sanheim and Cam York pairing: It was a rough night at the office for the Flyers top pair, with each blueliner finishing with a minus-2 rating. The tandem blew a coverage assignment on the first Bruins goal — both defensemen ended up on the same side of the ice leaving a wide-open Brazeau backdoor — while they seemed to get hemmed in the defensive zone for much of the night. The Bruins dominated the shot attempts 16-8 in the 12 minutes, and 43 seconds that Sanheim and York were on the ice at five-on-five together, and out-chanced the Flyers, 10-6. While most of the Flyers graded poorly in terms of Corsi in a game where the Bruins outshot the Flyers, 34-14, the fact the Flyers top duo was dominated by Boston’s best is a bit worrying.

Jett Luchanko: Luchanko was fine in this game and even had a few bright moments — an early shot on goal and a nice setup in transition for Jamie Drysdale probably being the best of them. That said, when grading Luchanko Tuesday based on the “did he do enough to earn a nine-game NHL trial” scale, the answer for me would be no. The Bruins out-chanced the Flyers 10-2 at five-on-five when Luchanko was on the ice and he also committed two giveaways and took the hooking penalty that led to the Bruins’ game-winning goal.

» READ MORE: John Tortorella won’t rule out keeping Jett Luchanko with the Flyers: ‘We have that conversation'

“Luchanko has impressed us right from day one with his skating, just his maturity, as far as his play away from the puck,” said Tortorella. “He made some really good plays tonight, struggled in some other areas. It’s a good test for some of these kids.”

That test involved the 18-year-old going matching up against some rugged centermen in the Bruins’ top two of Elias Lindholm and Charlie Coyle. That’s a much different challenge than anything he saw last year in the OHL with Guelph.

The Flyers had a few guys banged up in Boston as York took a high stick to the face in the first period, and Tyson Foerster and Nick Seeler both were shaken up and missed shifts after blocking shots. Foerster was seen walking with a bit of a limp after the game. The Flyers will hope neither Foerster nor Seeler’s injuries are anything serious. No injury updates were provided after the game.