Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Philadelphia Flyers have looked like a completely different team the last two games. They’ve looked a lot more like the team we’ve become accustomed to watching for the better part of this season. Before their recent eight game losing streak the Flyers seemed on course to lock down a trip to the post season for the first time since 2020. The race in the East has become so tight that the Flyers are one of four teams still in the hunt with only days to go.
Unfortunately they’ve put themselves in a position where their fate is no longer in their own hands. The Flyers final game of the regular season is on Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals. Depending on how things shake out around the league that final game could end up being for all the marbles.
The turn around
The Flyers bottomed out this past Tuesday night suffering a humiliating 9-3 loss to the Canadiens in Montreal. After the game every player remained in the visiting locker room in full uniform to meet with the press. Even the players who were scratched that night stood with them in the room to take ownership of their situation as a team. The mood in the room was intensely somber but it did not appear to be a funeral or a therapy session.
During the skid all kinds of theories were freely verbalized about how “these guys had given up” or “just didn’t care anymore”. This group of players sitting there sharing responsibility as a team did not come across as a fractured unit that had no skin left in the game. In fact they came off as exactly the opposite. They presented themselves as a unified front who took responsibility for their shortcomings while exhibiting a strong resolve to turn things around. Two nights later they went into Madison Square Garden and defeated the best team in the league 4-1.
Philly vs New Jersey
Right from the start of this match the Flyers seemed more focused on keeping the Devils at bay than they did on attacking the New Jersey net. So many games as of late seemed to have been decided before they even got a chance to settle in due to early goals. The Flyers were obviously trying to avoid that situation. They were holding back a bit on their run and gun stretch game in lieu of cycling and back-checking. There was always someone behind the play guarding the fort.
Samuel Ersson was tested early on a rush by Nico Hischier and Graeme Clarke. Ersson made the initial save but the rebound dropped dangerously behind him, the puck was swept out of harm’s way before the Devils could capitalize.
Power Play
The Flyers power play continues to be a weak spot for them. So many times this season a power play goal could have made the difference in close games. It is something they desperately need to figure out. They ended up with a 1:13 two man advantage at one point and watched it slip away with nothing to show for it. Samuel Ersson capped off the period with a big save against Timo Meier and the teams went scoreless into the first intermission.
Penalty Kill
The Flyers penalty kill this season has been just as good as their power play is bad. They have scored more shorthanded goals (16) than any other team in the league this season. It is not uncommon for the Flyers to find a winger to hit with a stretch pass and send him in on a breakaway while playing a man short. And it is totally not uncommon for that winger to be Travis Konecny.
Midway through the 2nd period with Cam Atkinson in the box for holding, Scott Laughton found Konecny with a pass on the wing springing him in all alone. It was trademark TK all the way. Skating in with a head of steam he beat Devils netminder Kaapo Kahkonen over the pad and under the glove. Kahkonen looked resigned to the fact that he had been beaten before the puck even hit the back of the net. It was Konecny’s 33rd goal of the season.
Good D
The Flyers remained focused on their defensive game throughout the final period. Forwards were back-checking, shots were getting blocked, and overall coverage was not an issue. At one point Erik Johnson blocked a shot then laid on the puck, voluntarily offering himself as a human piñata, until the play was blown dead.
Nick Seeler was a monster doing whatever he had to do to get things done. He stood out all night. As the game wore on the Devils started showing signs of frustration. They were not connecting and they were resorting to attempting a lot of low percentage chances.
Alexander Holtz found a ton of open ice during a rare Flyers breakdown and luckily became his own worst enemy. He was in the slot all alone with the puck when an unexplainable stick-handling mishap sent the puck sailing off to the corner.
Goaltending
Tyson Foerster found himself with the puck surprisingly in point blank range on two separate occasions. The first, he caught a high clearing attempt with his glove and the puck dropped right in front of him all alone in the slot. Kahkonen made a key save on the odd looking play. Later in the 3rd period an innocent wrap around hit a divot in the boards and the puck shot out from behind the Devils net and again right onto Foerster’s stick all alone on the doorstep. Kahkonen somehow held him off again.
Flyers netminder Samuel Ersson posted his 4th shutout of the season stopping all 20 New Jersey shots. His teammates combined to block an additional 22 on the night. The key to this game was defense and Ersson proved to be a big part of that strategy. He looked calm and confident in the net. The rookie goaltender has allowed only one goal during the course of the last two games.
Extra Credit: Wayne Simmonds dropped the first puck at tonight’s game. Simmonds signed a one day deal so that he could officially retire as a Flyer. Simmonds has always been a fan favorite in Philadelphia and for good reason. Wayne is everything you could want a Flyer to be. As a player he embodies the grit and relentless tenacity that Philadelphia hockey fans love and admire.
Wat to go Wayne!