It has been a long season for the Philadelphia Flyers.
The team is currently (Thursday, January 12) seventh in the Metropolitan Division and 24th in the NHL with a 17-18-7 record and 41 points. The Flyers are also 25th in the league in goals scored (119 goals), 20th in goals against (135 goals against), 29th on the power play (16.5 percent), and 18th on the penalty kill (75.8 percent).
Judging by the numbers above, you would think that it is mighty depressing in Philly. This a team that will more than likely miss the Stanley Cup playoffs again and will have to consider making some changes in the offseason.
With all of that said, however, things are starting to turn in a positive direction for the Flyers. The team has won six of their last seven games, and they are playing the game the right way.
For starters, they are getting tremendous play from forward Travis Konecny. Konecny, 25, leads the team in scoring with 46 points on 24 goals and 22 assists.
He was especially good on Wednesday night, January 11, when he recorded a hat trick in a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals. With the hat trick, he extended his point streak to 10 games, a streak where he has 12 goals and eight assists.
Speaking of offense, the team as a whole has been better over this seven-game stretch. The team is averaging 4.14 goals per game.
After the team’s victory over the Capitals, Flyers veteran forward Scott Laughton told Adam Kimelman of NHL.com that they are starting to gain some confidence when it comes to putting the puck in the net.
“We’re playing more confident offensively, and with that comes results, and obviously when results are coming, there’s a confidence that comes throughout the group,” Tippett said. “I think we’re all enjoying winning, and we want to keep it going.”
The team is also getting better goaltending. Carter Hart has won two of his last three starts and is now 12-12-0-6 on the season with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.
The club has also gotten solid goaltending from 23-year-old Samuel Ersson. In five games this season, Ersson is 4-0 with a 2.30 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage, and one shutout.
Again, the Flyers will probably miss the postseason, but at least they are showing their fans that they will play hard every night.
