Photo Credit: Derik Hamilton/AP Photo
The clock is winding down on the year 2021. The Flyers are 12-12-5 and sit tied for fifth place in the Metropolitan Division with 29 points with two games remaining before the calendar turns to 2022.
The last time the Flyers played a game was Dec. 17 against the Ottawa Senators. Their last two games versus Washington (Dec. 21) and Pittsburgh (Dec. 23) were cancelled due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
Tomorrow night, the Flyers play their first game in 11 days when they visit the Seattle Kraken. It marks the start of a four game road-trip and a stretch of four games in seven days for the Orange and Black.
It’d be nice to say the Flyers are right where they want to be headed into 2022. The reality of it though is that they’re far from it.
After a long break and a new year right around the corner, here are three things to to look for as the Flyers get ready to flip the calendar.
Consistency
For awhile, the Flyers were consistently losing. After all, a ten game losing streak isn’t just something that you can forget about.
However, as of late, things have started looking up for the Flyers.
Over the last five games, the Flyers have earned 9 out of a possible 10 points going 4-0-1. During that stretch, they’ve outscored their opponents 22-13 despite being outshot 174-166.
Starting tonight versus the Seattle Kraken (10-17-3), the Flyers will head out west and embark on a four game road-trip. Along with the Kraken, the Flyers will face the Sharks, Kings, and Ducks before heading home.
The four-game road trip will be followed by a stretch in which they’ll play five of their next six games against Eastern Conference opponents. Aside from the game against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 8, the Flyers will face the Penguins, Hurricanes, Bruins, Rangers, and Islanders all in a span of 12 days.
The time for wins is now. The ten game losing streak that the Flyers endured from mid-November to early-December put them in somewhat of a steep hole.
As of late, goal scoring hasn’t been a problem for the Flyers. They’ve finally found some consistency to some degree in that department.
On the other hand, turnovers and playing to their strengths for three periods of hockey has been a major issue.
Over their last five games, the Flyers have been guilty of 43 giveaways. That’s the second worst in the NHL over that span trailing only the Edmonton Oilers (47).
As for not playing a full three periods, look no further than their game against Ottawa. After taking a 2-0 lead and outshooting the Senators 14-7 in the first period, they came out flat in the second period and gave up two goals less than four minutes into the period. One of those goals came off of a Keith Yandle turnover on the powerplay that led to a shorthanded goal for the Senators.
Look for better decision-making with the puck as well as a more complete game from the Orange and Black as they continue to build on the process that interim head coach Mike Yeo is implementing.
A Healthy Ryan Ellis
The Flyers biggest offseason move was acquiring defenseman Ryan Ellis from the Nashville Predators back in July. The hope was is that he could fill the void left by former NHL defenseman Matt Niskanen alongside top pair defenseman Ivan Provorov. Unfortunately, Ellis has played in only four of the Flyers 29 games so far this season and hasn’t been much help while dealing with what is believed to be a nagging hip injury.
This past Sunday, the 30-year-old defenseman was added to the NHL’s Covid-19 protocol list creating yet another obstacle for the Flyers prized offseason acquisition.
The hope is that Ellis will be able to return at some point early on in the month of January. When he does make his much anticipated return to the ice, he’s expected to eventually be paired with Ivan Provorov on the Flyers top defensive pair.
In four games this season, Ellis has registered five points. He has one goal and four assists.
The return of Ellis should help stabilize not only the top defensive pair but the defense as whole. Justin Braun, who has played on the top defensive pair alongside Provorov quite a bit this season, would likely move down in the lineup and take on the role of a bottom pair defenseman. That’s assuming that the Travis Sanheim-Rasmus Ristolainen pairing continues to play well.
Provorov, who has struggled a bit more than usual this season, will most certainly welcome back Ellis with open arms. Provorov has been guilty of being caught flat-footed, out of position, and making costly decisions with the puck more than what we’re used to seeing. Expect to see a more well rounded defenseman in Provorov once Ellis is off the Covid-19 list and back from injury.
Elite Version of Sean Couturier
The Flyers top center has looked far from himself through 29 games. Couturier, who has reportedly been battling injuries all season long, has only 17 points in 29 games. He has only two goals in his last 20 games and six goals all season. That’s simply not enough production from a guy who the Flyers expect to be one of the top producers on offense.
Couturier, who when at his best is regarded as one of the best two-way players in the NHL, recently was placed on the Covid-19 protocol list. He will not be on the ice when the Flyers take on the Seattle Kraken tonight and may not take the ice at all on this four game road trip.
The Flyers will need their 29-year-old center to get back to being one of the top two way players in the NHL if they want to make a splash in the last 53 games of the regular season.
Couturier won the Selke Trophy back in 2019-2020. The award is given “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game”. He’s at his best when he’s playing well at both ends of the ice.
As the Flyers head into 2022, look for Couturier to get back to that elite level of hockey. That means producing offensively at one end of the ice and shutting down opposing teams top lines at the other end.
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