Weal’s return includes surprise promotion to top line
PITTSBURGH >> A little over a week after he got knocked on the head via a hit by Edmonton’s Eric Gryba, Jordan Weal looked around Saturday and found himself in the middle of a big football field, playing in front of more fans than he could have ever imagined, and playing on the Flyers’ No. 1 line. Welcome to Pittsburgh. “Feels good,” the minor league promotee said Saturday night, just prior to the Stadium Series outdoor fest between the Flyers and Penguins at Heinz Field. “I’m itching to get back in and help the boys get another W.”
Weal should be eager to get into any game. He had only played three times subbing for injured Travis Konecny when he went down with what likely was a mild concussion against the Oilers. He had been pointless in those games, but that’s only because the Flyers’ offense usually has a pointless approach.
But Weal had played well, and showed why he led the Phantoms with 47 points in 43 games when he was called up.
“This year he’s been playing some great hockey,” Claude Giroux said of his new linemate. “I saw a couple of games with him playing with the Phantoms; he controls the puck very well and the best thing about him is he competes for the puck very hard.”
With Weal playing on the left side next to Giroux and across from team goals leader Wayne Simmonds, the Flyers could offer an intriguing mix to come at either of the Penguins’ premier scoring lines, Sidney Crosby centering Carl Hagelin and Patric Hornqvist and Evgeni Malkin between Chris Kunitz and Phil Kessel. Not a bad twin trio. Weal hasn’t seen a lot of people like those guys, either. Even if he did play outdoors before.
“It was in junior (hockey), in Calgary,” Weal said, talking about his only other outdoor hockey experience. “It was like this, maybe a little colder. But a lot of wind, and it does play a factor. It makes the game unique.
“You don’t get that when you’re indoors.”
As for playing against players uniquely talented like the Penguins’ skill people, Weal added, “It’s a big two points. So we have to play our game . ... We’ve just got to go out there, work as a line and get a couple of goals.”
*** The Flyers’ power play had been all of 4 for 42 when coach Dave Hakstol switched things up a little, sending Ivan Provorov to the point and moving Shayne Gostisbehere into more of a forward role along the wing. The club did respond with five power play goals in a couple of games afterward.
“It’s a little bit of an adjustment with where I am, but I think it’s just nice to be on the power play,” Gostisbehere said. “Whatever position they put me in, whether it’s on top or on the wing, it’s something where I just have to be ready for it. I think I’m comfortable in both spots.”
*** Hakstol was impressed with what he saw on this day. Granted, it was before the game, but ...
“You see the excitment around town and even the little things; as you ride from the hotel to the building here, to see the event and the fans and everything that’s going on around here,” Hakstol said. “That’s all leading up to puck drop and that’s what we’re here for.
“Pretty special atmosphere. Pretty special venue. For me, I’m looking forward to that puck drop in that venue and in that atmosphere.”
*** NOTES >> Game-time temps were about 36; attendance count in the neighborhood of 60,000 . ... Although Michael Del Zotto would seem a pretty good candidate to be traded by the Tuesday, 3 p.m. deadline, he was a healthy scratch two games in a row. That’s a different way to showcase a player. ... Jake Voracek before the game commenting on powerful wind gusts: “I would say wind is better than rain, so hopefully it won’t rain tonight. Hopefully (the wind) is going to be in Crosby and Malkin’s face.”