Owen Tippett, a penalty killer? The advantage is Flyers

The Flyers scored 16 shorthanded goals last season and probably wouldn’t mind scoring even more in the 2024-25 season.

Some of the best penalty kill units use speed and instinct to put pressure on the opposing power play. Cam Atkinson did it for years with the Blue Jackets under John Tortorella and Brad Shaw. Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton are doing it for the Flyers now, effectively killing penalties by making plays on ice.

Since 2022-23, Konecny leads the NHL in shorthanded goals with 10 and Laughton is first in shorthanded points with 16.

One striker who could add to the undermanned goal tally is Owen Tippett. What was notable was that the 25-year-old winger was on the ice for the Flyers’ first penalty shootout of the season on Friday night. He ended up playing 1:53 minutes shorthanded in the team’s 3-2 season-opening win against the Canucks. That’s after he played 1:52 minutes shorthanded all of last season.

Tippett has the strength to be a threat on the PK. He plays with great acceleration and anticipation. Last season, Laughton mentioned Tippett’s ability to single-handedly make things happen from the defensive zone.

“The way he uses his speed, especially from our own zone, I think creates so much offense for us,” Laughton said in January. “He creates a lot of attack power out of nothing.”

In the 2021-22 season, Rangers forward Chris Kreider began taking penalties as a 30-year-old and his entire game took off at the same time. He is a winger of similar size to Tippett and, along with Konecny, was one of the game’s best shorthanded scorers.

At 25 years old, Kreider’s offensive output was identical to Tippett’s from last season: 28 goals, 53 points. Now, at 33, he is one of the better power forwards in the NHL.

As one of the Flyers’ highest-paid forwards, Tippett is set to take another step. For a man who has flirted with 30 goals over the last two seasons, adding a penalty goal to his repertoire is certainly intriguing. Last season he reached a career record of 16:35 minutes per game. Imagine what he can play in all situations.

Owen Tippett, a penalty killer? The advantage is Flyers – NBC Sports Philadelphia

Recent Posts