How many times have Flyers fans wondered this season when some Flyers players were going to stick up for their own. Last season most fans saw Flyers players sticking up for their own on a nightly basis, however, this season it has been anything but. I even personally wrote an article on this, this past Sunday as no one came to star center Sean Couturier’s aid this past Saturday night against the Washington Capitals:
Nolan Patrick was hit hard earlier in the season as he limped to the bench, and no one came to his aid. Even Oskar Lindblom was roughed up earlier in the season and no one came to his aid. After Scott Laughton got helicoptered and Sean Couturier got roughed up by Garnet Hathaway, yet still in both cases no one came to their aid. Claude Giroux was roughed up on Monday night and finally some Flyers players stuck up for their own with both Patrick and Jakub Voracek coming to the aid of the Captain.
Voracek actually came to the aid of Patrick as Brendan Smith would have eaten him for lunch, but nonetheless it showed this team finally has some spirit. It showed they care for one another, and it showed finally some fight in this club.
On too many occasions this season Flyers players have just looked at players maul their stars. There are multitudes of reasons why Tom Wilson’s, Kurtis Gabirel’s, and Ryan Reaves exist in today’s hockey. They are there to keep order and an eye on their stars.
The Flyers clearly have a ways to go in developing a team identity this season, however, finally they showed some fight and direction towards that on Monday night’s 5-4 overtime victory over the New York Rangers. Hopefully things will continue to improve in Flyer Land.
