Flyers Have Big Plans for the Power Play

PHILADELPHIA – For all the work the Flyers have done recently trying to find chemistry among lines, special teams hasn't been a huge focus.

The team worked on it in a morning skate before their first exhibition game against the Washington Capitals as per routine. When the units that don't have much experience together finally got around to playing a game, the man advantage looked just as efficient as always.

Four power-play goals gave the Flyers a 5-4 win over Washington in a split-squad game.

The loss of Kimmo Timonen on the blueline might be a big one, but the power-play system might muffle his absence. After all, the man advantage makes the Flyers tick. Fifty-eight of their 233 goals last season came on the power play.

Mark Streit, who is the likely candidate to replace Timonen on the first unit when the regular season rolls around, had a goal and three assists…all on the power play.

More impressive, the Flyers hardly had a roster chock full of NHLers in Philadelphia. A larger group was in Canada, where the Flyers faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in London, Ontario.

Streit, Jake Voracek and Brayden Schenn are all members of the presumed first power-play unit and stayed behind in Philadelphia.

They had quite a field day, going 4-for-7 when up a man. Jake Voracek scored on a one-timer from the right wing with 24 second left in the first period to get the Flyers on the board after they fell behind 2-0.