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Will the real Philadelphia Flyers please stand up? The 2019-20 Flyers just clinched the first playoff series for this proud franchise since the 2011-12 season. Hockey addicts across the Philadelphia region and abroad are pumped, and they can’t wait for a parade down Broad Street. Remember the good old days of the Flyers being impatient? Those days are long gone…history, zip, zilch.
The new and improved Flyers organization now spearheaded by General Manager Chuck Fletcher finally got rid of some waste and hopefully, the end result will be with a parade down Broad Street shortly.
There are some players on the Flyers roster that had a lot to prove entering the playoffs, and one of those players was none other than Shayne Gostisbehere, AKA Ghost. Ghost is a Veteran that hails from the great state of Florida. For three years Ghost attended a very good hockey college of Union College in Upstate New York, until he eventually he found himself playing for the Adirondack Phantoms in 2013-14, to which they became the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2014-15. Ghost quickly became an integral part of the Flyers Power Play in 2015-16, which was his first full season with the orange and black. For his rookie campaign, Ghost tallied 8 PP goals, as he owned a rocket from the point. Moreover, the way he is able to hold the puck in on the blue line while on the Flyers are on the man advantage, cannot be taken for granted either. Since his coming out party in 2015-16, Ghost has registered 21 PP goals, which includes the 2018-19 season, as well.
This young 27-year-old in Ghost was primed and ready for a big season last season. Unfortunately, it was anything but blissful, as he only registered nine goals (4 PP goals), and 28 assists for a total of 37 points in 78 games played. These numbers are way down from the career year that he set in 2017-18 when he finished 10th in the league in the Norris Trophy Voting (Awarded to the Best Defenseman). For the 2017-18 season, Ghost tallied 13 goals (7 PP goals) and registered 52 assists in 78 games played.
To put the 2018-19 season into perspective, Ghost’s production was nearly half of what he produced in 2017-18. To make matters worse, he was placed on the 2nd PP at times last season, and Ghost just wanted to get better, but he appeared to be hurt. Fast forward to the series clinching game against the Montreal Canadiens, Ghost was effective and had his swagger back, “It’s pretty special,” Ghost said, “I know Provy and I have been in the playoffs before and didn’t get too far. It’s pretty fun to get a series win. Obviously we’re not done. Just a feather in our hat right now and we’re going to keep going. Keep this train rolling.”
The Professional in Ivan Provorov then said, “It’s just great. He’s a warrior. He battles through adversity. He’s big part of our team. He’s been here for a while. He’s a leader. Every time he’s on the ice, he helps our team a lot. Glad to have him in the lineup.”
Ghost struggled mightily this season. There is no denying that Ghost’s reduced production was in large part due a knee injury that may have never recovered as we are finding out from Ghost now. He played in two games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season tallying one assist in the process. His injury hurt with the man advantage, and it also hurt while transitioning out of the Defensive Zone to the Offensive Zone. However, on one special series clinching night all his injuries appear to be in the past, and he even got some high praise from the Flyers top boss in General Manager Chuck Fletcher yesterday:
“Ghost is really respected by his teammates and the coaching staff, really by all of us. He had a tough battle this year. Just lingering issues with his legs, his knee. He never felt right. He couldn’t get his game going. He didn’t same explosiveness in his skating and he’s a player with his style needs to have a little pop in his skating. A little explosiveness to beat people, to create the lanes to get pucks to the net and he didn’t have that. Obviously your confidence can dip and you feel like you’re chasing it all season. He’s looked really good since he’s been here. He’s skating the best that he’s skated since I’ve been with the Flyers. He’s making plays. I thought last night, he was outstanding and not just with the puck. He really created the one goal there by jumping up the ice on the rush and then pinching down on the wall. Had a really noticeable impact offensively. Almost scored a power play goal. I thought he was very good defensively. Had a good stick. Had a big open ice hit on Suzuki. He had to play the offside. He moved around. That’s not an easy thing to ask of a guy. Give him credit. Again, this is the best hockey he’s played since I’ve been with the Flyers and that’s exciting for our team when you can add a guy of that caliber.”
When healthy Ghost is an integral player on the Power Play. Head Coach Alain Vigneault and Assistant Coach Michel Therrien typically use him on the second Power Play Unit, mainly because of his heavy shot. Maybe his injuries have contributed to his inaccurate shot this season, and now 100% look for a redeemed Ghost. Ghost played well in yesterday’s exhibition against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he was good in transition. He had good gap control, and his skating appeared to be smoother, “I don’t know so much as have to prove myself,” Ghost said, “I have good body work. I think in my own mind, I think I do. I didn’t have the best season. I’ve been hurt. I just had surgery about two months ago. There’s something to prove there, showing that you’re ready and capable. I know they believe my skill sets there. It’s just if I am there mentally, physically, and ready to do. Every day, playing, scrimmaging and what not, I feel better and better. I’m just going to keep doing my thing. He’s going to put the best lineup out there possible. If I’m not in it, I’ll be the best cheerleader. I think for myself, it’s just focusing on myself getting better and this team winning a Stanley Cup.”
There is no doubt in my mind that Ghost is an asset to this team. Now he just needs to focus on consistency, and with that the Flyers could really have an extended playoff run. Whatever the case maybe Ghost may have his swagger back, which could only spell good news for the orange and black.
