Tortorella wants more from productive Hayes

PHILADELPHIA >> As John Tortorella continues to lament the absence of reliable Flyers, the curious case of his attitude toward Kevin Hayes grows.

A popular veteran, skilled with the puck and never a known dressing-room detriment, Hayes has generated 19 points in 19 games, including a 5-2 loss Monday to the Calgary Flames. But that was not before a third-period benching earlier in the season and a refusal at the time to fully explain why.

Earlier Monday, after Hayes had scored three goals in the previous five games, Tortorella was reluctant, at best, to pronounce the troubles behind.

“Yeah, we’ve got more work to do,” he said, when asked directly about Hayes. “Very, very good with the puck, but still some things to work on away from the puck.”

Tortorella acknowledging that all coaches would appreciate better off-the-puck dedication at all times, he was not hesitant to put that demand on the 30-year-old, fourth-year Flyers forward, whose first period assist Monday extended a pointproviding streak to six games.

“His biggest strength, obviously, is his playmaking,” Tortorella said. “He makes a lot of good plays. He’s a point-a-game guy right now, which is really good and very important to us. But there are other habits. I think that’s what I’m trying to work on, as far as things in his

game that need to change.”

Among Tortorella’s potential change-agents was to bump Hayes from center to the left wing on a line with center Noah Cates and Zack MacEwen. Part of the reason was that the Flyers were playing without forwards Travis Konecny (upper body), James van Riemsdyk (finger), Scott Laughton (head) and Wade Allison (oblique).

Later, Hayes returned to center, with Tortorella mildly impressed by his

performance.

“He wasn’t bad,” Tortorella said. “He made some plays, had some chances, was in some of the offense that we had, although we didn’t bunch.”

Hayes is remaining in character, trying to produce points rather than making in-house waves, not even during a losing streak that has reached seven games.

“The work ethic is there, even if the results aren’t,” he said of the Flyers. “Usually when you’re on a streak like this, it’s the opposite, where guys are trying too many things and the work ethic is kind of optional.

“I think we are working hard and trying to learn from our mistakes. Every team goes through something like this. We want to nip it in the bud as soon as we can.”

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After a two-game demotion to the Phantoms, Tanner Laczynski rejoined the Flyers Monday. Tortorella had said he wanted the 25-year-old center to show “who he is.”

Laczynski needed 14:33 to show who he was by scoring his first career goal.

“He wasn’t doing that,” he said. “But talking to Chuck (Fletcher), I think he had a couple of good games. He

did some good things. And he gets the call back.”

To open roster space, the Flyers loaned Egor Zamula to Lehigh Valley.

Among Laczyinski’s responsibilities will be to contribute to the power play.

“We’re dealing with short strokes,” Tortorella said. “That’s not a criticism, but we just have so many players out, so we’ve got to put a couple of units out there.”

In his first 12 games with the Flyers this season, Laczynski had no goals and two assists. He had a goal and two assists in his just-ended AHL hitch.

“I’m gaining more confidence,”

he said. “I think there were times I was not as confident with the puck. Going down there and playing a little more offense just kind of gives me more confidence.

“I just went down there and did the best I could. And I was fortunate enough to get called back up.”

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With the Flames scoring twice into an empty net, Carter Hart stopped 25 of 28 shots record dipped to 6-4-4.

Tortorella is not ready to use a tired-goaltender excuse.

“I don’t buy that,” he said. “Goaltenders can be talked into being tired. Sometimes an athlete has to battle through. We’re in a little bit of a jam and you’re the No. 1 guy. You battle through and find a way to help us. I think that’s part of growing as a goaltender.”

•••

NOTES >> Konecny (upper body) skated early Monday, but was scratched for a second consecutive game, with Tortorella offering no updates. … For the 5:30 game Friday against visiting Pittsburgh, Wells Fargo Center doors will open at 1 for fans wishing to watch World Cup soccer on the big screen in an arena setting.