Sam Ersson was good, but plenty of bad and ugly in Flyers' loss to Stars
Coach John Tortorella summed it up best after the Flyers' 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars: "We struggled. We played [expletive]." After playing hard against several top teams in games they could have won, they had no energy from the beginning on Thursday and could only muster a goal from Morgan Frost in the third period.
Coach John Tortorella summed it up best after the Flyers' 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars: "We struggled. We played [expletive]." After playing hard against several top teams in games they could have won, they had no energy from the beginning on Thursday and could only muster a goal from Morgan Frost in the third period.
The good: Sam Ersson
Returning after missing three games with another lower-body injury, Ersson looked steady and tracked the puck well despite allowing three goals on 22 shots. "I’ve got to be honest with myself, I don’t think it’s a bad game," he said.
The good: Sam Ersson
Returning after missing three games with another lower-body injury, Ersson looked steady and tracked the puck well despite allowing three goals on 22 shots. "I’ve got to be honest with myself, I don’t think it’s a bad game," he said.
The first two goals by Dallas were from atop the crease, via a tap-in and a rebound; each needed stronger play from his defensemen. The third was just a snipe. Ersson robbed Colin Blackwell, too. "We’ve [complained] about our goaltending, don't [complain] about it tonight because I thought he played well," Tortorella said.
The first two goals by Dallas were from atop the crease, via a tap-in and a rebound; each needed stronger play from his defensemen. The third was just a snipe. Ersson robbed Colin Blackwell, too. "We’ve [complained] about our goaltending, don't [complain] about it tonight because I thought he played well," Tortorella said.
The bad: Odd-man rushes
The Flyers' structure was almost non-existent at each end of the ice, allowing one of the best transition teams several odd-man rushes. The first goal by Mavrik Bourque started with a 2-on-1 and Wyatt Johnston made it 3-0 on a 3-on-1.
The bad: Odd-man rushes
The Flyers' structure was almost non-existent at each end of the ice, allowing one of the best transition teams several odd-man rushes. The first goal by Mavrik Bourque started with a 2-on-1 and Wyatt Johnston made it 3-0 on a 3-on-1.
The shot attempts were 58-57 in favor of Dallas, but it was not indicative of how badly the Flyers were outplayed. “One of the things that's been strong within our concept here, the last little while, is our third man," Tortorella said. "We gave up more odd-man rushes tonight than we have in probably seven or eight games."
The shot attempts were 58-57 in favor of Dallas, but it was not indicative of how badly the Flyers were outplayed. “One of the things that's been strong within our concept here, the last little while, is our third man," Tortorella said. "We gave up more odd-man rushes tonight than we have in probably seven or eight games."
The ugly: The booing
Ten minutes in and the Flyers were down 2-0. For the next 50, there was booing — and jeering like when the Flyers finally got the puck out after sustained pressure that saw Egor Zamula and Rasmus Ristolainen stuck on the ice for 3:59.
The ugly: The booing
Ten minutes in and the Flyers were down 2-0. For the next 50, there was booing — and jeering like when the Flyers finally got the puck out after sustained pressure that saw Egor Zamula and Rasmus Ristolainen stuck on the ice for 3:59.
Tortorella didn't really care about the booing, but the players definitely got the message. "Obviously there's a bit of frustration as the game goes on tonight," Frost said. "You never want to get booed in your own arena and we didn't really give them a ton to cheer about. We didn't have enough life. It's tough."
Tortorella didn't really care about the booing, but the players definitely got the message. "Obviously there's a bit of frustration as the game goes on tonight," Frost said. "You never want to get booed in your own arena and we didn't really give them a ton to cheer about. We didn't have enough life. It's tough."