Flyers coach Rick Tocchet calls out his team after Game 5 loss: ‘They’ve got to step it up’

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What started as a 3-0 waxing by the Philadelphia Flyers has suddenly turned into a series as the Pittsburgh Penguins have won two straight to force a Game 6 back in Philadelphia.

Now, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet is letting his boys know that he needs quite a bit more from them if they’re going to close out the series and move on to face the Carolina Hurricanes.

Tocchet spoke to the media after the Flyers’ 3-2 Game 5 loss, and while he was sure to give the Penguins — a team he played for and was previously an assistant coach for — their flowers for a solid performance, he made it clear that some of these guys need to step up.

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“I thought Bumper (rookie Alex Bump) was great, (Denver) Barkey,” he said. “The young guys are good.”

The young guys certainly were good. In fact, Bump — who was drawn into the lineup after Tocchet scratched forward Matvei Michkov — scored a massive goal to get the Flyers on the board after falling behind 2-0.

Of course, the flukey game-winner bounced off of him before taking a strange carom off the endboards, but that’s hardly his fault.

But while the young guns are firing, it’s the old dogs that Tocchet needs more from.

Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers reacting during a hockey game at PPG Paints Arena

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“We’ve got to get some guys, though — they’ve got to step it up,” the Flyers bench boss said. “They’ve got to play (with) a little more pace, shorter shifts.”

Tocchet said he liked how the team played upon evening the game up at 2-2, but said that the Letang goal — like some other flukey goals this series — took the wind out of their sails.

So, the answer?

Creativity.

Flyers celebrate in front of Sidney Crosby

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“We’ve got to come up with some stuff here,” Tocchet said. “You know, we’ve got to fake some shots; deception. I think we’re buying our head and shooting stuff into shin pads, we’ve got to have a little more creativity, and we’ve got to talk about that.”

The Flyers and Penguins are back in action on Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 6.

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