Tocchet: Flyers weren’t ‘mentally prepared’ for Hurricanes

Philadelphia Flyers Coach Rick Tocchet said his team wasn’t “mentally prepared” for the Game 1 loss. Carolina Hurricanes Saturday night.

The Hurricanes won their fifth postseason game in a row 3-0 shutout Over the Flyers, who advanced to the second round for the first time since 2020 Pittsburgh Penguins In six games.

Tocchet said the euphoria of Wednesday night’s overtime win over their rivals could negatively affect their focus in Game 1 in Raleigh.

“I don’t know if we were mentally prepared to play tonight. Winning our playoff series, (almost) not making the playoffs … there was a lot of excitement. I don’t think we were down to earth that early for this game. And then what happens: Your legs aren’t there,” he said. “We didn’t make any plays.”

This was evidenced by a vicious first period for Philadelphia. The Hurricanes had the advantage in shot attempts (20-10), the shots on goal advantage (12-4) and led 2-0 in the dressing room. Logan Stankoven And Jackson Blake.

“We had a good start,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That won the game. Not much happened after that.”

The Hurricanes played their trademark style of stifling defense and stellar penalty kill, as the Flyers went 0-for-4 on the power play.

“It’s a good baptism for some of our players on how to play. We need to play with some quickness and reaction time,” Tocchet said.

The Flyers offense took a hit before the game as a forward Wayne Tippett Couldn’t play due to injury and is listed as day-to-day. He had just one goal and one assist in six playoff games, Tippett led the Flyers with 28 goals in the regular season.

But overall, Philadelphia learned their second-round opponent is a formidable one. The Hurricanes became the eighth team in the last 50 years to allow five or fewer goals through their first five contests in a postseason, giving up just five goals overall against Ottawa and now Philadelphia.

“The Penguins were a good hockey team. So was Carolina. They played well. We didn’t play well,” Touchette said, asked if it was a step up in competition. “I don’t think we gave them anything to worry about in the first half of the game.”

Game 2 is Monday at the Lenovo Center.