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Here comes a Lion roaring into the Flyers locker room, “I like it, it has followed me everywhere in my Junior career with the Omaha Lancers,” ALEX LYON said in reference to fans referring to him roaring like a Lion, “They would do the ‘Lion King’ stuff in Omaha. Yale, and obviously Lehigh Valley it has stayed with me. I used to love it, and in college I got really annoyed by it, but it’s a good brand for me. I think almost every fan now asks that ‘Alex is lion on Madagascar, that’s like your name’ I’m like I know I’ve heard it.”
Another man down, another man up has become the theme of the Flyers season thus far. The Flyers have been battling, and trying to overcome adversity with injuries for the past month and a half or so. Each time a player comes back from IR (Injured Reserve), another one seems to hit the shelf. Hart has been sidelined with a lower body injury, and it’s ashame for a guy that has been so darn good at home. He has compiled a 13-2-2 record at home for lords sake.
It’s a tall task for the orange and black to overcome this type of adversity, in a positive manner night in and night out. They are overcoming long-term injuries/diagnosis sustained to Nolan Patrick, Samuel Morin, and Oskar Lindblom. One can only imagine how tough it is to overcome these injuries throughout the course of the season.
In Hart’s place, an all familiar face in Alex Lyon got the call. Lyon knew what was ahead of him for this upcoming season. He knew that there was a log jam at the Goaltending position. Even with the log jam, Lyon still remained positive that he would be a force to be reckoned with, of course, with whatever team he would play for, “It was great this past Saturday night. It’s tough getting emotionally invested going from one place to another. You get caught up in the playoff race, or the Phantoms who are struggling a bit you feel for them. For me to get emotionally invested with the guys here. I’m pumped.”
The 27-year-old netminder in Lyon has produced solid numbers this season for the Phantoms, as he has compiled a 2.56 GAA, and a .916 Save Percentage in 23 games played. Is he flashy? No, but Lyon gets the job done, and he remains a true professional in the process as he loves Nolan Patrick, “Nolan is an amazing player. He’s got so much talent, it’s insane. It’s always cool to be around him. Just witness his skill, like I’m impressed with G, Coots, and Jake you go down list. The number two overall player, it’s great.”
Lyon was sharp early against the Colorado Avalanche this past Saturday, and he allowed his team to get their feet under them. When they eventually did Joel Farabee potted two goals, a Keith Primeau comparable in Kevin Hayes potted two goals, and Sean Couturier chipped in three apples too. Lyon just continued to make tough save after tough save, 2-on-1’s no problem, Lyon had their backs.
At the end of the night, Lyon gathered his fifth NHL victory in the 6-3 win. With the victory, the Flyers moved into the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, and were just one point out of third place. On one magical night in South Philly, Lyon roared in like a lion, just as he could have scripted right, “They were excited. My mom has to watch the games on a five second delay because she gets so nervous she can’t watch it live. Whatever my emotions are, they are times five for them. I’m a Professional, I can keep it under wraps, but my mom and dad, especially my mom, they are roller coaster. They are pumped though.” Well, Lyon you can continue to roar like a Lion, like the true Professional you are, Philly loves you.
