Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet admitted that Wednesday's thrilling overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins had an impact on the team's performance in Saturday's Game 1 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes.
"I don't know if we were mentally prepared to play tonight," Tocchet told reporters, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Winning our playoff series, (almost) not making the playoffs ... there was a lot of excitement."
Tocchet continued, "I don't think we got down to earth quick enough for this game. And then, that's what happens: Your legs aren't there. We just didn't make any plays."
Philadelphia clinched a spot in the second round by edging the Penguins 1-0 on a goal that came late in the first overtime period. Carolina swept the Ottawa Senators and had a week off before hosting the Flyers in Game 1.
Carolina came out flying Saturday. Forward Logan Stankoven continued his red-hot start to the playoffs by notching a goal off a redirect just 1:31 into the contest. Jackson Blake followed that up with another tally six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission.
The Hurricanes outshot the Flyers 12-4 in the opening frame and cruised to victory after Stankoven potted his sixth goal of the postseason at the 16:16 mark of the second. Netminder Frederik Andersen stopped all 19 shots he faced to secure his second shutout of the playoffs and seventh in his postseason career.
"The Penguins were a good hockey team. So is Carolina. They played well. We didn't play well," Tocchet added when asked whether the Hurricanes were a step up in competition in comparison to Pittsburgh. "I don't think we gave them anything to worry about for the first half of the game."
Philadelphia will look to rebound in Game 2 on Monday night.
