Carter Hart stole a game for the Flyers this week and Joel Farabee signed his ELC. That and more in this week’s 2 Up, 2 Down looking at the win over the Blackhawks to Sunday’s loss against the Capitals.
Up
Carter Hart
It wasn’t a very good week for the Philadelphia Flyers, so let’s celebrate one of the few bright spots that earned the lone win. That’s unsurprisingly, Carter Hart.
The Flyers had no business staying in the game against the Blackhawks in the first two periods, but Hart kept them in it. His saves while the team was shorthanded in the first period, stopped one or two goals alone. The 20-year-old ended up with 40 saves on the night, the fourth time he’s done that this season.
Against the Islanders, it looked like Hart would be able to steal another win for Philadelphia, but New York was able to pot two goals near the end of the game. The lackluster play from the team is more to blame there (more on that later) and Hart can only do so much.
Joel Farabee
I was one of plenty that believed 2018 first-round pick Joel Farabee would return for his sophomore season at Boston University. At first, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the New York native jumping to professional hockey, but some people more knowledgeable with the player changed my mind:
Honestly, I don't think there's much Farabee can learn developmentally in college that he won't be able to do in the AHL. And he's going to be a hell of a player.
— Hannah Stuart (@HockeywthHannah) March 25, 2019
Good stuff. I'm of the belief that he's probably still one year away from making the NHL, but I see no problem with getting him on an pro level strength training program and giving him the boost in competition at the AHL level. And hey, if he kills it in camp, who knows? https://t.co/8dcKHxGVV7
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) March 25, 2019
Maybe it’s the remaining effects of Ron Hextall and his patient approach as general manager that made me feel that way, but Farabee had a great freshman year. He scored 36 points in 37 games and led his team in scoring. That’s not common to do as a true freshman, and he improved after the World Junior Championship.
He’ll likely start with the Phantoms next year (he could also finish this year with them) and continue to develop just like he did in college. Good for Farabee for taking the opportunity to make some money, while developing, and convince the Flyers’ staff he’s ready for professional hockey.
Down
Energy
The Flyers have really been playing playoff hockey since the middle of January. That type of intensity will catch up to a team eventually and Philly had the perfect storm: back-to-back games against playoff teams and a flu bug making its way around the locker room.
Philadelphia even looked listless against the Blackhawks Thursday, but Hart was able to save that one for the team. Then came the Islanders, a team the Flyers have had luck against recently, but came with the background noise of the Jake Voracek-Johnny Boychuk incident. The officiating didn’t help anything either.
After that, the Flyers didn’t stand much of a chance against the Capitals, a team they had given up 10 combined goals in their two previous meetings. It was a schedule loss too, but Philly probably loses that game on any day after its recent stretch.
Sam Morin
The Flyers have been slipping out of the playoff race, and effectively stand no chance of making it, though aren’t mathematically eliminated yet. Interim head coach Scott Gordon and the players have said they’ll still compete until the end of the season — and you can understand that.
Gordon is trying to get rid of the interim tag and the players are prideful. However, it’s keeping Sam Morin out of the lineup.
The defenseman hasn’t played an NHL game at all this year — mainly because of his ACL recovery, but also because he returned while the team was still in the playoff race. Now, he’s not sitting because it might take until the final week for the Flyers to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
I’m not saying it’s unfair to Morin, but the guy has to want to play. You can’t help but feel bad for him, but even by this time next week, he could be playing his first NHL game in a year and a half.