No need to overreact with Bump, Grebenkin shows bite and more as Flyers lose originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Flyers’ prospects weren’t the comeback kids this time.

They fell to the Rangers, 5-2, Saturday night at PPL Center in the second of two rookie games.

The teams split the weekend series. Game 2 was chippy and sloppy.

“I felt like there were a ton of whistles tonight,” AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley head coach John Snowden said. “I didn’t think there was a whole lot of flow in general in the game.”

Ethan Samson and Alexis Gendron provided the Flyers’ goals. Gendron finished with two in the series.

The Flyers rallied to win Game 1 in overtime, 4-3. Nikita Grebenkin, who scored the winner for the Flyers, had two assists in Game 2.

• Alex Bump, arguably the most NHL-ready prospect in rookie camp, went scoreless over the weekend.

That may be seen as a disappoint to some fans who have heard so many good things about him. But it’s important to remember that a pair of rookie games won’t decide a prospect’s fate for main camp.

Two years ago, Tyson Foerster was the rookie camp headliner. He went scoreless in the two games against the Rangers. The Flyers, though, weren’t too worried about it. Foerster went on to make the big club’s roster and had a 20-goal rookie season.

Bump could be one of those complementary guys who gets better around NHL players. And it’s not like the 21-year-old winger looked bad offensively in the rookie series. He showed some of his strengths.

In the first period Saturday, he put a pass through two Rangers and right to Matthew Gard at the doorstep. But Gard was unable to get his stick on it as he streaked to the net.

• Grebenkin impressed in both games.

Not only can he make plays with quick hands and good vision, but he also competes through contact. You can see why the 22-year-old winger played seven games for the Maple Leafs last season before coming to the Flyers in the Scott Laughton trade.

“He plays with a ton of bite,” Snowden, who runs rookie camp, said. “He’s a highly skilled player, but he is not easy to play against at all. He’s going to whack you when you come off the bench, he’s going to crosscheck you, he’s going to stick his nose in there. He wants to take contact and create his space.”

• Coming off a 20-goal year for the Phantoms last season, Gendron knows he has good offensive tools. But he also knows he needs to continue to round out his overall game if he wants to climb to the Flyers.

“Last year, I thought my game grew up a little bit,” the 21-year-old winger said. “I had a chance to play on the PK yesterday and today, so that’s pretty big for me. I’m trying to be more of a complete player — PK, power play, 5-on-5.

“I’m just trying to prove that I can be an NHLer; not just an AHL guy.”

• Samson had another strong game. His second-period goal came on a missile from the circle.

“One of his greatest strengths is his shot,” Snowden said. … “He can score when he gets his opportunities.”

The 22-year-old defenseman could be a call-up option at some point this season. He has steadily improved in two seasons with Lehigh Valley.

“That’s everyone’s goal at the end of the day, to make that jump,” Samson said. “I’ve just got to keep playing my game and doing what they tell me do, and hopefully I can get to the next step.”

• Carson Bjarnason started in net and played a little over half the game, giving up three goals on 17 shots.

The 2023 second-rounder really wasn’t to blame for any of them.

He allowed a first-period power play goal to Scott Morrow, who played 14 games for the Hurricanes last season.

New York struck again in the opening minute of the middle stanza when the Flyers gave up a 3-on-1 rush. Later in the period, the Flyers surrendered a 5-on-3 power play goal.

Camp invite Joey Costanzo finished the game and stopped 12 of 13 shots.

The Rangers’ final goal was an empty-netter.

• Oliver Bonk ended up missing the second rookie game, as well. The 2023 first-round defenseman was out Friday because of maintenance.

“Just getting him ready for main camp,” Snowden said after Saturday’s loss.

One would think the Flyers didn’t feel there was any need to rush Bonk back, but we’ll see how his status trends over the course of early next week.

Denver Barkey had the night off after an excellent game Friday.

• The Flyers are scheduled to have two more days of rookie camp in Voorhees, New Jersey.