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Flyers Playoff Player Review: Tyler Pitlick

By Walt Gebelein

Aug 8, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers forward Tyler Pitlick (18) battles with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) to get off a shot on goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period of the Eastern Conference qualifications at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers forward Tyler Pitlick (18) battles with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) to get off a shot on goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period of the Eastern Conference qualifications at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tyler Pitlick put together a solid performance for the Flyers in the playoffs. What were his strengths and weaknesses that were displayed?

Throughout the playoffs, Tyler Pitlick would play on the second, third, and fourth lines for the Flyers.

Tyler Pitlick, Philadelphia Flyers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tyler Pitlick, Philadelphia Flyers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The center was easily viewed as a key forward on the penalty kill, playing the third most penalty-kill minutes among the team’s forwards. He ended up playing the 7th most minutes of any Flyers forward, playing up and down the line up on the second third, and fourth line.

While showing great effort, Pitlick did not put up stellar numbers in the playoffs.

Pitlick recorded two goals and an assist, with a -3 +/- rating.  In some aspects, this made sense, as he seemed to be leaned by the staff on as the first man in, sometimes the only man in on the forecheck.

Philadelphia Flyers. TYLER PITLICK. B-. . F

Pitlick was an important penalty killer and piece to the Flyers playoff success.  His ability to play up and down the line up helped to mitigate the effects of injuries, but he did not excel in any situation at even strength.  It is difficult to gauge how much of Pitlick’s even-strength woes were his own making and how much was due to headwinds caused by teammates.

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There could only be potentially one goal that would be pinned on Pitlick. Islanders’ defenseman Andy Greene’s rip from the point in game one of the series against the Islanders, the first goal of the series.

However, Pitlick would lose defensive discipline from when the offense got set up in the zone from time to time. It could have been much worse, if not for Carter Hart.

Overall, Pitlick contributed more to the good than the bad in the series.  It looks to me that much of the worst even-strength issues stemmed from being paired with Nate Thompson.

But Pitlick’s struggles while on other lines can’t be ignored.

His real value was as a penalty killer where he graded out as an A.  Given the Flyer’s struggles on the powerplay, a sharp penalty kill was important to keep some kind of special team balance and Pitlick’s penalty-killing did just that.

Pitlick will be missed, leaving a hole in the Flyer’s penalty killing, and he will have a fine season with Arizona Coyotes.

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