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Flyers Should Add Hathaway to Power Play
The Philadelphia Flyers are off to a decent start so far this season with a 10-9-1 record. Despite their current two game losing streak they are fifth in the Metropolitan Division, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Garnet Hathaway.
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One thing that is going very well for them is the penalty kill. They have a kill rate of 82.8% - 12th best in the NHL. In general their defense has been good. They only surrender 2.9 goals against per game, which is 10th best in the league.
Offensively, things are a bit different. They are 18th in the league with 3.15 goals for per game. Their power play is converting at 10.3%, which ranks 29th out of 32 teams.
Something desperately needs to change.
Sean Walker.
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Yesterday the power play went 0-for-6. The last power play goal the Flyers scored was Bobby Brink's goal against the Blue Jackets in their 5-2 win on November 19th - six days ago. Breaking down that goal can give the Flyers a formula to becoming more successful.
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The Flyers win the faceoff cleanly, it goes to Sean Walker. Joel Farabee drives to the net, screening goaltender Spencer Martin and Brink rips the puck on net past Martin. Simple, effective, meat and potatoes type play.
Don't waste time trying to set up a fancy pass or one timer. Get bodies in front of the opposition's goalie and get pucks on the net. One player who could be great as a net front presence is Garnet Hathaway. He's feisty and can take punishment without backing down.
Garnet Hathaway
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Hathaway only played 8:16 against the New York Rangers, and has averaged 10:55 on the season. However, for the power play to become more effective, he could carve out a net-front role to jolt the power play alive. He could be that spark.
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