Three Takeaways From Flyers Victory vs. Capitals

The Philadelphia Flyers kicked off their preseason game schedule against the Washington Capitals, coming away with a 6-2 win in Washington D.C.

Two goals from Bobby Brink and Morgan Frost, along with one goal apiece from Joel Farabee and Olle Lycksell reflected an overall strong outing from the Flyers, where multiple players had standout performances. 

First Looks

Highly-touted prospects Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko got their first outings against NHL opponents in this game, giving fans a glimpse into how they look against top-level players.

Michkov featured on the top line alongside Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost, while Luchanko centered the second line with Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink. 

 

Luchanko looked strong in this game, picking up an assist on Brink's goal, along with getting to show his impressive skating abilities and get some flashes of excellent offense during his shifts. The 18-year-old has thoroughly impressed all summer, and this game has only further silenced those who questioned if Luchanko was the right pick for the Flyers in this year's draft. 

Michkov had a quieter game—not bad by any means—but less explosive than he's looked in camp and in the Flyers' Rookie Series. He still picked up an assist, and it is  only the first preseason game, after all. He still looked solid, but it's a perfect example of what the front office has been telling fans about Michkov's play—he's still getting used to the NHL game, and expectations need to be tempered. 

Welcome Back, Jamie Drysdale!

Jamie Drysdale and Nick Seeler were the top defensive pairing for this matchup, and they looked fantastic together. 

Drysdale looked especially good in this game, looking freer and more comfortable with his skating than in previous months. It really goes to show how much injuries—especially the core issues he was dealing with before getting surgery in April—were holding him back last season.