Photo Credit: The Canadian Press
After losing ten straight games, the Flyers have won three in a row and are all of sudden finding the back of the net.
During the ten game losing streak, the Flyers were outscored 47-18. Simply put, not good for a team that can ill afford to dig themselves too deep of a hole playing in a division that consists of teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes, the New York Rangers, and the Washington Capitals to name a few.
That losing streak has come and gone. The Flyers have since won three in a row and have outscored there opponents 15-7. While they’ve gotten contributions from up and down the lineup, the top two lines have stood out. Whether it be scoring a goal, spending extended time in the offensive zone, or creating a flurry of scoring chances, the top six has looked just about as dangerous as they have all season.
The Flyers first line is made up of Scott Laughton (LW), Sean Couturier (C), and Travis Konecny (RW). Over the past three games, they’ve combined to rack up a total of seven points. While you wouldn’t call those numbers flashy by any standard, the top line has been noticeable just about every time it’s hit the ice.
Sean Couturier has looked far from himself this season. A player who is usually considered one of the top two-way players in the NHL, has far from exceeded expectations. Since interim head coach Mike Yeo bumped Scott Laughton up to the first line though, Couturier has looked more and more like himself.
Over the past three games, Couturier has registered two points, scoring a goal and assisting on one other. While those numbers won’t jump out at you, it’s more than just the points.
Couturier has looked like a much more confident player with Laughton and Konecny on the wings with and without the puck. The more and more this line plays together, the more you should hopefully see Couturier round into the player we’re used to seeing, which is that elite two-way center who is considered one of the NHL’s best.
As for Laughton, who is one of those guys who can slot anywhere into the lineup, he’s earned his bump up to the top line. Laughton is one of those players who works hard every shift and leaves it all out on the ice.
Over the past three games for the man they call “Sarge”, Laughton has produced a goal and an assist on the left wing of the Flyers top line. What isn’t shown here is the missed opportunities for the 27-year-old NHL veteran. In Tuesday nights game versus the New Jersey Devils, Laughton failed to crack the scoresheet but had quite a few high-danger scoring chances that he couldn’t capitalize on.
As for right winger Travis Konecny, he’s had his fair share of scoring chances but hasn’t been able to cash in. The good news is that Konecny, with a new look first line, could be on the verge of a breakout with playmakers like Laughton and Couturier on the ice with him. Despite the plethora of scoring chances though, he has only five goals in 27 games, but has fit in quite nicely on the new look top line.
As for the Flyers second line, they’ve been on fire. They accounted for four of the Flyers six goals in Tuesday nights win over New Jersey.
What was a line made up of Morgan Frost (LW), Claude Giroux (C), and Cam Atkinson (RW), is now a line minus Morgan Frost, who was removed from Tuesday nights game due to the NHL’s Covid-19 protocols. Oskar Lindblom replaced Frost at the left wing position on the second line and fared quite well.
Over the past three games, that line, including Morgan Frost, who didn’t finish out the game Tuesday night, has recorded 11 points. They’ve scored five goals and added six assists during that span. In other words, they’re on fire.
For Morgan Frost, who did not travel with team to Montreal yesterday, is looking more and more comfortable at the NHL level. He has an assist over the past three games and his playmaking skills have been on full display along with his strong play defensively. He was fitting in quite nicely on the second line at left wing before the covid incident.
As for Oskar Lindblom, who took the place of Frost on the second line in the first period, the 25-year-old forward has had his fair share of struggles this season. Over the course of 26 games played, Lindblom has registered a total of four points, scoring two goals and assisting on two others. He did however score a nice goal Tuesday night when he capitalized off of a Devils turnover and went upstairs on goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.
The hope is that playing alongside Giroux and Atkinson will boost his confidence and get him back to playing the way he was early on in 2019-2020 when he scored 11 goals in 30 games played.
As for Claude Giroux, he’s done nothing but produce for the Flyers this season. He’s second on the team in goals with 10 and leads the team in points with 24. He’s played a huge part in this new look second lines success, as well as the Flyers, by often making something out of nothing with one of his nifty passes.
Over the last three games, the captain has registered three points, scoring one goal and assisting on two others. His pretty passing game was on display versus the Devils when he helped cap off Cam Atkinson’s hat-trick. At 33-years-old, the longest tenured athlete in the city of Philadelphia is showing no signs of slowing down.
Finally, last but not least is Cam Atkinson, who has scored three goals in the past three games, all of which came in one game, and assisted on two others. Atkinson, who was acquired by the Flyers in an offseason trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, is a goal scoring machine. He leads the Flyers in goals with 12 and is three goals away from the grand total he had last year in 56 games when he scored 15 goals.
Atkinson is the shooter type mentality the Flyers have been looking for. He’s the finisher on that second line and has the capability of putting the puck in the back of the net more often than not. Having playmakers like Giroux, Lindblom, and Frost playing alongside him will only further help him light the lamp.
While three games is a very small sample size, it’s encouraging to see the Flyers top two lines making things happen out on the ice consistently. Whether or not it will continue, only time will tell. For now though, things are looking up.
