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  4. title => "Evaluating Philippe Myers' NHL debut in Flyers' win over Red Wings"
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  6. article_body => "<p>Twenty-five months after TSN analyst Bob McKenzie brought Philippe Myers into the spotlight, saying he looked NHL-ready or \u201cclose to it,\u201d the prospect finally got his first look in a Flyers sweater Sunday during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/flyers-3-red-wings-1-after-allowing-4-goal-third-period-carter-hart-silences-detroit\" target=\"_blank\">3-1 win in Detroit<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And he didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tonight in Detroit, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Flyers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Flyers<\/a> defenseman <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/philmyers06?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@philmyers06<\/a> will make his <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NHL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NHL<\/a> debut! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LetsGoFlyers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#LetsGoFlyers<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Vc7cC0OSbH\">pic.twitter.com\/Vc7cC0OSbH<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NHLFlyers\/status\/1097245520148484097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>\u2022 My assessment of Myers last season was that he was a hybrid of Samuel Morin and Travis Sanheim, and it was interesting to hear interim head coach Scott Gordon\u2019s pregame comments, labeling Myers a \u201cblend of Sam Morin and Travis Sanheim. He\u2019s got some bite and some edge, and he has the skill of Travis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His skating ability is very comparable to Sanheim and perhaps even a little better, as he won a foot race in the second period to eliminate a potential scoring chance.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 At one point in the third period, Myers (7:59) had more ice time than&nbsp;Shayne Gostisbehere (7:53), but Gordon didn\u2019t want to assert any more pressure on the rookie defenseman with a one-goal lead. Myers' last shift came with 8:40 remaining in regulation as he finished with 9:53 TOI,&nbsp;seeing only 1:54 in the third period.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Breaking down Myers'&nbsp;shifts: five came with Ivan Provorov, four with Andrew MacDonald, three with Gostisbehere and one with Robert H\u00e4gg.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Right away, Gordon showed some confidence in the 22-year-old defenseman. On Myers'&nbsp;second shift of the game, Gordon had him out there for an offensive zone faceoff with the Flyers' fourth line. Later in the first period, Myers was tasked with a defensive zone faceoff with the Nolan Patrick line. Gordon certainly wasn\u2019t shying Myers away from any situation.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 We saw that bite and edge early on as he pinned his man against the boards like a flyer thumbtacked to a bulletin board. The one element to Myers' game that\u2019s already a notch better than Sanheim's is his ability to separate a player from the puck.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 The one play everyone will remember is Myers' slight pinch to keep the puck deep in the offensive zone, which eventually led to&nbsp;Provorov\u2019s game-winning goal. The simple play looked very effortless and the type of plays he has repeatedly made throughout his time with the Phantoms.<\/p>\n<p>When I asked him recently about his assertiveness in the offensive end this season, Myers told me he\u2019s just playing on instincts and not purposely thinking about jumping into the play.<\/p>\n<p><!-- VIDEO FILTER - INVALID CODEC IN: [video:https:\/\/vplayer.nbcsports.com\/p\/BxmELC\/philly_embed\/select\/media\/vTVizmdjJFnn] --><\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Myers' mother and father hopped on an early flight from Moncton, New Brunswick, caught a connection in Montreal and flew into Detroit to catch their son play his&nbsp;first game \u2014 one they\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/johnborukNBCS\/status\/1097323865406169089 \n<p>Now you\u2019re left wanting more from&nbsp;Myers, and perhaps wondering when that next game might come.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/myteams-nbc-sports?utm_tags=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><strong>More on the Flyers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/flyers-3-red-wings-1-after-allowing-4-goal-3rd-period-carter-hart-silences-detroit\">Remember that 3rd period? Hart sure doesn't as he silences Wings<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/wayne-simmonds-stands-claude-giroux-fighting-red-wings-anthony-mantha\">Last fight as a Flyer? Simmonds stands up for Giroux<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/day-when-flyers-carter-hart-isnt-his-best-he-still-shows-uniqueness\">On a day when Hart isn't his best, he still shows uniqueness<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/chuck-fletcher-cam-talbot-gives-flyers-shot-arm\">Talbot gives Flyers 'a shot in the arm' ... but for how long?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/flyers-james-van-riemsdyk-representation-hockey-day-america\">Van Riemsdyk a representation of Hockey Day in America<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Flyers

Flyers

Twenty-five months after TSN analyst Bob McKenzie brought Philippe Myers into the spotlight, saying he looked NHL-ready or “close to it,” the prospect finally got his first look in a Flyers sweater Sunday during a 3-1 win in Detroit. 

And he didn’t disappoint.

• My assessment of Myers last season was that he was a hybrid of Samuel Morin and Travis Sanheim, and it was interesting to hear interim head coach Scott Gordon’s pregame comments, labeling Myers a “blend of Sam Morin and Travis Sanheim. He’s got some bite and some edge, and he has the skill of Travis.”

His skating ability is very comparable to Sanheim and perhaps even a little better, as he won a foot race in the second period to eliminate a potential scoring chance.

• At one point in the third period, Myers (7:59) had more ice time than Shayne Gostisbehere (7:53), but Gordon didn’t want to assert any more pressure on the rookie defenseman with a one-goal lead. Myers' last shift came with 8:40 remaining in regulation as he finished with 9:53 TOI, seeing only 1:54 in the third period.

• Breaking down Myers' shifts: five came with Ivan Provorov, four with Andrew MacDonald, three with Gostisbehere and one with Robert Hägg. 

• Right away, Gordon showed some confidence in the 22-year-old defenseman. On Myers' second shift of the game, Gordon had him out there for an offensive zone faceoff with the Flyers' fourth line. Later in the first period, Myers was tasked with a defensive zone faceoff with the Nolan Patrick line. Gordon certainly wasn’t shying Myers away from any situation.

 

• We saw that bite and edge early on as he pinned his man against the boards like a flyer thumbtacked to a bulletin board. The one element to Myers' game that’s already a notch better than Sanheim's is his ability to separate a player from the puck.

• The one play everyone will remember is Myers' slight pinch to keep the puck deep in the offensive zone, which eventually led to Provorov’s game-winning goal. The simple play looked very effortless and the type of plays he has repeatedly made throughout his time with the Phantoms.

When I asked him recently about his assertiveness in the offensive end this season, Myers told me he’s just playing on instincts and not purposely thinking about jumping into the play.

• Myers' mother and father hopped on an early flight from Moncton, New Brunswick, caught a connection in Montreal and flew into Detroit to catch their son play his first game — one they’ll never forget.

https://twitter.com/johnborukNBCS/status/1097323865406169089

Now you’re left wanting more from Myers, and perhaps wondering when that next game might come.

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

More on the Flyers