This, despite Steve Ott’s best attempt to become the most nefarious agitator anyone has ever seen on ice in one game.
While Ott was busy tricking Zac Rinaldo into the penalty box and turning every faceoff opportunity into a three ringed circus, the rest of his teammates collapsed under the pressure created by newly formed Flyers liners Sean Couturier, Matt Read, and Steve Downie. The trio were solely responsible for the turnaround after the Flyers gave up a first period goal and walked into the locker room down 1-0, with Read doing most of the damage.
This was a win against a severely struggling team undergoing a second coaching change since Lindy Ruff was let go after last season, and are still in the process of discovering themselves after watching their second Captain in two seasons jettisoned for draft picks. It’s a win nonetheless for the Flyers who are turning things around and playing with steady confidence after beginning the season 1-7, bringing them within one win of being .500 on the season.
Pretty plain to see the direction these two clubs are headed, really.
This victory should not be downplayed however, regardless of the opponent, as it is another step forward and bad team or not, games are not won on paper. The Flyers had to come back from a goal down, and they had to demonstrate to the home crowd (who have been getting their share of vitriol lately for doing their best impression of a typical Devils crowd) that they were a team worth making noise for again, and that they did. It didn’t matter if Giroux scored a goal or not (and he came incredibly close, ringing a puck off the right post in the first period after drawing goalie Ryan Miller out of position), nor goalie Ray Emery’s goal surrendered (again, just one goal, and his GAA is a staggering 1.00 since pummeling Caps goalie Braden Holtby), simply because all cylinders were firing for the Flyers. They finally have a fourth line performing decently with the anchor being less-heralded-but-should-be-appreciated center Adam Hall, and Steve Downie has been a steal, with 5 assists in 6 games since putting the Orange & Black back on. No one should really be surprised by this, Downie has much better offensive skills than given credit for, and that fact will probably never change.
What Downie has done that hasn’t been immediately recognized is allowing Sean Couturier and Matt Read to concentrate on what they do best, instead of overcompensating for previous deficiencies. Couturier, who many have called a bust, and has been the name dropped in a myriad of trade rumors is playing his game, which centers on pressuring the puckholder and then being creative with it in another team’s defensive zone. This is the skill set he used against Evgeni Malkin to great effect in Sean’s greatest NHL highlight to date, and it is the key to finally unlocking this kid’s potential. Read can now keep himself focused on digging out pucks, and lining himself up for passes to use his precision shooting. This is all made possible by Downie’s underrated defensive mindset, being the primary forechecker, and then getting that outlet feed to his new playmaking partners in crime. Once the player who virtually remained in former Coach Peter Laviolette’s doghouse, Couturier is benefiting from this stability, and is using the opportunity to gel with his linemates.
This is something not spoken of lately, and it used to be one of the main topics of discussion, Laviolette’s endless line changes and the chaos it created.
I’m going to once again praise Craig Berube for simply “sticking with it” and letting his players develop that chemistry, bad night, good night, the players learn from it, and they have a legitimate chance to fix things before the next game. This wasn.t present before and now is a breath of fresh air.
Without it? Matt Read probably doesn’t score two answering goals to put the Flyers up, and Vincent Lecavalier doesn’t get the third, a booming slapper from the right faceoff circle. This team needed this, some time to get used to each other at game speed, to “know” where the other will be during crucial moments, and it’s something that just can’t be taught at practice. Even when the Sabres pulled Miller for a 6 on 5 to try and close the gap in the waning moments, the club didn’t wilt, instead understanding where their teammates would be, and positioning themselves to frustrate Buffalo’s last gap chances. Scott Hartnell sealed the deal with a few seconds on the clock with an empty netter from the Buffalo blue line. Did anyone feel anxiety during that 6 on 5 sequence though? I’m thinking no.
That’s the trend the Flyers have to stay on, continue the course, and ride all the way into the playoff picture. Last night’s game was another good sign.
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