Philadelphia Flyers

Quick Hits: Worlds, Voracek Update, Hextall and More
May 9, 2017, 8:46 AM ET [205 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
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IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: FLYERS ROUNDUP

Czech Republic 4 - Finland 3 (SO, Monday)

There was good news and bad news for the Philadelphia Flyers players involved in Monday's preliminary round game at the IIHF World Championships that saw Finland build a 3-0 lead before the Czech Republic rallied for three unanswered goals in the third period and eventually completed the comeback with a shootout victory. Flyers right winger and Czech team captain Jakub Voracek (5:31 TOI) did not return after the first period. At 6:30 of the first period, Voracek was stapled to the end boards from behind with a high hit by Finland's Oskar Osala (who received a checking from behind penalty and 10-minute misconduct)

Voracek returned to the bench and seemed OK at the time. On Wednesday, news came that he will practice with the Czech team on Wednesday and should be fine to resume playing in the tournament.

Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas played an important part in the Czechs' comeback win. With 2:14 remaining in the third period, Gudas scored his second goal of the tournament to narrow the gap to 3-2 before Jan Kovar tied the game just 23 seconds after play resumed. Overall, Gudas skated 18:35 over 27 shifts and was credited with three shots on goal. He also had the game's most memorable hit, sending Finland's Mikko Rantanen airborne with a clean hip check in the second period.

Coming off an upset loss to France in their last game, Flyers center Valtteri Filppula was pivotal in the Finns getting off to a fast start against the Czechs. In the opening minute, he scored the game's first goal and then assisted on a Topi Jaakola goal that gave the Finns a 2-0 lead before the game was even three minutes old. Finland went on to take a 3-0 lead to the first and second intermissions before the collapse in the third period.

In the third period, Filppula was whistled off for a hooking penalty at 5:56. Roman Horak scored on the ensuing Czech power play, starting the comeback push as the gap was reduced to 3-1. After the Gudas and Kovar talles forced overtime and Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak set up the first and third goals of the rally, Robin Hanzl converted the lone successful shootout attempt for either side. Filppula finished with three shots on goal and was plus one (+2, -1) on the day in 17:23 of ice time across 28 shifts.

Former Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen, who serves as Finland's team captain, missed his second straight game with a hand injury. Although he no longer logs nearly the heavy-duty shutdown minutes he used to for the Finnish team, his steady and calming presence as well as his penalty killing and shot-blocking prowess have been missed by the Finns the last two games.

Finland opposes Slovenia on Wednesday. The Czechs take on Norway on Thursday.


Canada 6 - Belarus 0 (Monday)

Enjoying a 45-13 shot advantage and establishing full control over the game from opening faceoff to final buzzer, Team Canada breezed to a 6-0 win over Belarus on Tuesday. Flyers center Sean Couturier, who missed the first two games of the preliminary round with an undisclosed ailment, was in the lineup for Canada as he skated 12:55 over 18 shifts.

Two of the Flyers' five players on Team Canada found their way onto the scoresheet. Having an outstanding offensive tourney so far on a "kid line" with burgeoning Toronto Maple Leafs' star Mitch Marner and the Tampa Bay Lightning's Brayden Point, Flyers forward Travis Konecny collected a pair of assists, was plus-two in the game as both points came at even strength, had two shots on goal while skating 11:10 in 16 shifts.

Team Canada and Flyers captain Claude Giroux collected a rebound goal at even strength and also assisted on a Nathan MacKinnon goal that made the score 3-0 early in the second period. Giroux's later goal made it 5-0. Giroux finished with four shots on goal and was plus-three in 14:54 of ice time over 21 shifts.

Couturier started the game together on a line with Flyers' teammates Wayne Simmonds (13:59 of ice time in 15 shifts, one shot on goal, plus-one) and Brayden Schenn (12:49 of ice time in 16 shifts, five shots on goal, plus-one). Canada plays France (Pierre-Edouard Bellemare) on Thursday.

Russia 6 - Germany 3

Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov has chipped in an assist in each of the three preliminary round games that Russia has played to date. On Monday, he collected an apple while skating 16:32 of ice time in 27 shifts, as Russia dispatched Germany to remain undefeated in the preliminary round. Russia plays Denmark on Thursday.

France vs. Switzerland

Coming off its first-ever victory against Finland, Team France is back in action on Tuesday as it hosts Switzerland. Flyers forward and Team France alternate captain Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who had a goal and an assist in the win over Finland but graciously declined player of the game honors in order to recognize goalie Florian Hardy, centers his national team's top line.

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HEXTALL UPDATES OFF-SEASON AGENDA

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall has given several interviews over the past week via an initial media conference call, radio and NHL Network call-in pertaining to the 2017 NHL Draft lottery and his role as Team Canada's general manager at the 2017 IIHF World Championships. On Monday, he did his first on-camera interview for local TV about these and other topics.

Hextall didn't really say anything he has not already said regarding the upcoming Draft. He reiterated that he does not realistically anticipate trading the second pick but would listen to offers, Flyers scouts have done and continue to do due diligence on a variety of prospects and not just the so-called "big two" of Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier, and that whomever the Flyers draft will have to show himself to be NHL-ready to earn a roster spot next season and will not just be handed it based on being picked second overall.

In regard to the injury histories of Patrick and other players, Hextall said it's a multi-layered process based on the type of injuries involved, potential causation and whether it was diagnosed properly and rehabbed fully, as well as other issues. In and of itself, a potential draftee's injury history is cause for further exploration but is not necessarily a reason to avoid a player.

The GM was asked for updates on other offseason topics. He said that he is working on re-signing impending unrestricted free agent forward Jordan Weal, who impressed in the last quarter of the season after his callup from the American Hockey League. The organization is exploring possibilities for the assistant coaching job vacated by the firing of Hockey Hall of Fame member Joe Mullen, and candidates of widely varying pro coaching experience will be considered. There is no timetable right now to announce a hiring.

Hextall also acknowledged that he has interest in bringing longtime friend and colleague Dean Lombardi, who was recently fired as the Los Angeles Kings' general manager, back to the Flyers organization in some capacity. However, there was no update to pass along. Lombardi, who served as a Flyers pro scout in between longtime GM stints with the San Jose Sharks and LA, brought Hextall (then a Flyers scout) along with him to the Kings in 2006 to serve as his assistant general manager, vice president of hockey operations and primary GM of their team's American Hockey League affiliate. Hextall and Lombardi remained together until 2013, when the former returned to Philadelphia.