{"id":646960,"date":"2026-05-03T13:08:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T13:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/646960\/"},"modified":"2026-05-03T13:08:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T13:08:20","slug":"flyers-feel-they-have-the-blueprint-for-an-improved-game-2-vs-canes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/646960\/","title":{"rendered":"Flyers feel they have the blueprint for an improved Game 2 vs. ‘Canes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n

RALEIGH, N.C. \u2014 History was made on Saturday night, and not the kind the Flyers wanted. According to ESPN, Logan Stankoven\u2019s goal, just 1 minute, 31 seconds into the first period, was the third-fastest playoff goal in the 54-year existence<\/a> of the Hurricanes and the Whalers.<\/p>\n

It set the tone for what was to come. After riding the high of Wednesday\u2019s Eastern Conference quarterfinal win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers fell flat three days later, with a 3-0 loss to Carolina<\/a> that was far from competitive.<\/p>\n

The Hurricanes outmatched them in almost every facet; on the power play, the penalty kill, in their pacing, passing, puck-handling. Entering this series, there was a thought that the Flyers would have the advantage in goal, given how solid Dan Vlada\u0159 has looked (and how streaky Frederik Andersen has historically been).<\/p>\n

\u00bb READ MORE: The Flyers weren\u2019t just dominated in Game 1. Carolina wouldn\u2019t fall for their baiting, and that\u2019s a bad sign.<\/a><\/p>\n

But as the clock dwindled down in the third period, it was Andersen with the shutout, as Carolina\u2019s fans, twirling their rally towels, chanted his name.<\/p>\n

If there is a silver lining, it is that the Flyers made productive adjustments as the game went on. They did a better job of creating offensive opportunities off the rush and keeping the Hurricanes to the perimeter.<\/p>\n

Afterward, the players acknowledged that if there is a way to respond, it\u2019s going to have to involve disrupting the rhythm and speed that Carolina is known for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like [the first step is] just kind of playing like the last half of the game, getting in on the forecheck, holding onto pucks a little bit better,\u201d said Noah Cates<\/a>. \u201cSo, obviously, we knew they were coming, and they\u2019ll come hard in that Game 2, but we\u2019ve got to weather the storm a little quicker, get to our game a little quicker, and do that for more of a 60-minute effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

The center said that over the course of the second and third periods, the Flyers intentionally tried to put more pressure on Carolina, through increased forechecking and by attacking below the goal line.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think when we get in their zone, and we make them stop, that slows down their flips, and then their forechecks, and stuff like that,\u201d Cates said. \u201cSo, that\u2019s probably our best bet. Obviously to slow them down, and for us to create offense, getting them to stop, making switches, making reads that they don\u2019t want to make.\u201d<\/p>\n

Travis Konecny<\/a> echoed this sentiment. Like Cates, he felt that the Flyers got into a better rhythm as the game went on, but that the key is to slow and stop the pacing of their opponent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the more that we can get them stopped in their O-zone, because they like to fly around, and they don\u2019t love stopping,\u201d Konecny said. \u201cSo, if we can get them to stop, and we can start playing our game in the O-zone, get more shots, I think we\u2019re going to have a better chance. It\u2019s hard when you\u2019re trying to find that over and over. And we just didn\u2019t get to it quite as fast as we wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n

For all of their deficiencies on the ice on Saturday, Rick Tocchet<\/a> acknowledged that there might have been a mental obstacle, as well.<\/p>\n

\u00bb READ MORE: Garrett Wilson hasn\u2019t played a playoff game for the Flyers, but \u2018the GOAT\u2019 has made an impact on rookies and veterans alike<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if we were mentally prepared to play tonight, in the sense that I think that, winning the playoff series, I think there was a lot of excitement,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t think we got down to earth quick enough in this game. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then that\u2019s what happens, right? Your legs aren\u2019t there \u2026 your reaction, right? You know the second guys are going to come to you, you\u2019ve got to make be able to make that play. And we just didn\u2019t make any plays, especially in the first half. There were plays to be made, and we didn\u2019t make them.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Flyers have shown an ability to adjust within a playoff series. Whether they\u2019ll be able to this time, remains to be seen. <\/p>\n

One thing is for certain: they\u2019ll have a lot of work to do ahead of Game 2.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The Hurricanes] play that way all year long,\u201d said captain Sean Couturier<\/a>. \u201cThey\u2019re hard, they\u2019re quick, they play a simple, hard game. They rely on winning a lot of battles. And we\u2019ve got to be ready for that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we knew coming in that\u2019s the kind of game we\u2019d have. But for some reason, we weren\u2019t good enough. Plain and simple. But it\u2019s a long series, it\u2019s one game. It doesn\u2019t matter how you lose; we\u2019re down one. And we\u2019ve got to respond next game.\u201d <\/p>\n

Flyers leave the ice after losing 3-0 to the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers defenseman Cam York falls backward over Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake during the third period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers defenseman Cam York is hit by a loose stick from Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis during the third period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerHurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen blocks a shot by Flyers center Sean Couturier with Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere on his tail during the third period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers goaltender Dan Vladar pushes the puck with Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler after Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven scores during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers goaltender Dan Vladar stops the puck late during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Hurricanes Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers goaltender Dan Vladar during a break during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers goaltender Dan Vladar, (center) Flyers left wing Noah Cates (left) and Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler react after Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven scores a goal during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale passes the puck against Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen keeps his eye on the puck against Flyers defenseman David Jiricek of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers goaltender Dan Vladar stops the puck against Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers goaltender Dan Vladar catches the puck with defenseman Noah Juulsen at his side during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers goaltender Dan Vladar stops the puck against Hurricanes center Jordan Staal during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers center Christian Dvorak steals the puck from Hurricanes defenseman K’Andre Miller during the first period of Game 1 on Saturday night.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerHurricanes defenseman Mike Reilly shoves Flyers left wing Noah Cates during the first period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers goaltender Dan Vladar after Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake scores a goal during the first period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers center Denver Barkey skates with the puck during the first period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerFlyers center Sean Couturier goes after the puck against Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield in Game 1 of the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerHurricanes center Logan Stankoven celebrates a goal during the first period of Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Flyers Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff PhotographerThe Flyers take the ice before Game 1 in the second round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Hurricanes Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Raleigh.Read more<\/a>Yong Kim \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min RALEIGH, N.C. \u2014 History was made on Saturday night, and not the 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