Stopping Jeff Carter’s line key to Flyers ending Kings’ streak
To start his NHL career, Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has been thrown to the wolves.
He started against the Detroit Red Wings, one of the most creative teams with the puck. Next up: the reigning Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.
“I’ll be a little bit better. I’ll still be nervous,” Gostisbehere admitted. “It’s only my second game, but I’ll know what to expect a little bit more.”
It won’t just be a big test for him, but for the entire team. The Kings have won six in a row and come into town as the hottest team in the league.
Leading the pack is former Flyer Jeff Carter, fresh off honors as the NHL’s No. 1 star of the week. The center has six points in his last two games. His unit with Tanner Pearson and Tyler Taffoli — deemed “That ’70s Line” because of the numbers on their jersey — has 16 of the Kings’ 21 goals this season.
“It’s a big line,” Coach Craig Berube said. “It’s hard to stop them with the size they’ve got more than anything.
“You’ve got to have guys that are really committed out there at the time and have real good sticks.”
That Sean Couturier Line will certainly be the ones tasked with stopping That ’70s Line. If the Flyers can hold them at bay, they have a decent chance at breaking the longest active winning streak in the NHL.
Then, of course, comes the part where the Flyers themselves need goals.
“I would say they are the best team in the league,” said first-liner Jake Voracek, who leads the Flyers with 11 points. “I’m not sure about this year, but if you win the Cup two out of three years, that says something.
“Everybody knows they are playing tight defense but are very good defensively,” he added. “Obviously you want to funnel the puck at the net and they have one of the best goalies in the league as well.”
OK, maybe the Kings are not the ideal opponent for a rookie defenseman to get his feet wet, especially since Gostisbehere played 5:36 less than any other blueliner in his debut.
Berube said he’ll let the game dictate how much ice time Gostisbehere gets against the Kings, but is more likely to rely on guys like Voracek, who increased his average shot output a bit last season.
That’s good news against a team that is allowing an average of 33.6 per game, fifth most in the league heading into Monday night’s action.
“I wouldn’t say I changed anything specific from last year,” Voracek said. “I’m skating better. I’m moving better. Obviously you have more room, more time to shoot the puck and you have more options. That’s why I have more shots than I did last year.
“If you shoot the puck, nothing bad happens. I’ve kind of learned over the years, sometimes it’s better to just flip it on the net and try to force something.”
That’s certainly what Berube’s been preaching. The Flyers have taken an average 31.5 shots per game through their first eight games this season.
“For me, it’s getting pucks on net from everywhere,” Berube said. “L.A.’s a very good defending team. They’re a big team. They don’t give up much. Gotta work to get your opportunities offensively, for sure.”
As always, the start to the game is key. For the Flyers, that hasn’t been their forte. They’ve allowed the first goal in all but one of their first eight games.
“When you play a team like L.A., the Devils — these teams that are very stingy defensively — you’ve got to get the lead on them,” Berube noted.
“If they get the lead, they can shut it down. They can really shut it down. They’re always trying to get the lead back or tie it up so it opens up a little bit.”
If the Flyers do all that and are able to get past the Kings, they would be over .500 for the first time all season and erase a less-than-stellar start to the year, which began with four losses.
A matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning would be all that’s left to round out October, a month where the Flyers righted the ship with wins in Pittsburgh and Dallas.
“We had a real good road trip,” Berube said. “Getting the two victories, I thought that was key. Hung in there against Detroit. We hung in there and got the points.
“It’s not done yet; a big test (Tuesday), but right now we’re heading in the right direction.”
Reach Dave Isaac at disaac@courierpostonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @davegisaac.
KINGS AT FLYERS
• When: 7 tonight
• TV/Radio: CSN/97.5 FM