The Philadelphia Flyers kicked off their preseason game schedule against the Washington Capitals, coming away with a 6-2 win in Washington D.C.
Two goals from Bobby Brink and Morgan Frost, along with one goal apiece from Joel Farabee and Olle Lycksell reflected an overall strong outing from the Flyers, where multiple players had standout performances.
First Looks
Highly-touted prospects Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko got their first outings against NHL opponents in this game, giving fans a glimpse into how they look against top-level players.
Michkov featured on the top line alongside Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost, while Luchanko centered the second line with Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Luchanko looked strong in this game, picking up an assist on Brink’s goal, along with getting to show his impressive skating abilities and get some flashes of excellent offense during his shifts. The 18-year-old has thoroughly impressed all summer, and this game has only further silenced those who questioned if Luchanko was the right pick for the Flyers in this year’s draft.
Michkov had a quieter game—not bad by any means—but less explosive than he’s looked in camp and in the Flyers’ Rookie Series. He still picked up an assist, and it is only the first preseason game, after all. He still looked solid, but it’s a perfect example of what the front office has been telling fans about Michkov’s play—he’s still getting used to the NHL game, and expectations need to be tempered.
Welcome Back, Jamie Drysdale!
Jamie Drysdale and Nick Seeler were the top defensive pairing for this matchup, and they looked fantastic together.
Drysdale looked especially good in this game, looking freer and more comfortable with his skating than in previous months. It really goes to show how much injuries—especially the core issues he was dealing with before getting surgery in April—were holding him back last season.
It’s so obvious that he was never healthy last season for the Flyers. So much more explosive than he was in 2023-24 wearing a Flyers jersey. https://t.co/rGMKG1YAfr
— Charlie O’Connor (@charlieo_conn) September 22, 2024
The 22-year-old himself admitted that he felt “restricted” before the surgery, acknowledging that the core issues held him back from playing the way he wanted to and knew he could. But if this game is any indication of how Drysdale has been feeling since getting the surgery and spending the entire summer rehabbing and getting stronger, Flyers fans are in for some dazzling footwork this season.
Now You’re Gonna Get It, Bobby
Bobby Brink spent last season going up and down between the Flyers and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but he’s hit the ground running in training camp, keeping the good vibes going by scoring the first goal of this game.
His line with Luchanko and Farabee had an excellent game, and Brink’s individual performance saw him look stronger, faster, and eager to get involved in all parts of the action. It’s clear that he’s focused on strengthening the areas of his game that Tortorella mentioned he’d like to see Brink improve. It’s a bit too early to make any definitive judgments, but two goals against the Capitals will certainly have people keeping an eye on him as the regular season draws closer.
The Flyers next preseason game will come away against the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m.
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