Three up, three down.
While becoming perhaps the hottest team in the NHL right now, the Flyers snapped off a three game home winning streak in a building they have been desperate to do so in for the entire season. After having one 3 game streak erased by the Winnipeg Jets last week, they decided to craft another this one, in doing so, this club has gone 9-3-2, since beginning the ’13-’14 season a woeful 1-7. Last night’s victory against the Islanders wasn’t a fluke, and the Islanders are not a bad team either, just a playoff caliber squad with concerns at goalie while their starter Evgeni Nabakov is injured.
Honestly though, it doesn’t matter what the record of the Senators, Sabres, and Isles are, what mattered more was the fact that the Flyers haven’t been able to beat a midget team at home in a long time. Having made their craft on the road, Giroux & the gang just hasn’t demonstrated the same ability on home ice. The fans at the Wells Fargo have let the club have it for being so bad as well, to the point of being called out themselves for giving up on the club by making little to no noise at home games.
The magic in no small part has been in the hands of three men on the Flyers roster, the hustling and suddenly well oiled third line of Matt Read, Sean Couturier, and re-newed addition Steve Downie. Together, they have been pummeling the lines placed against them on the ice, utilizing crisp forechecks, quality work along the boards, a knack for getting their opponents to cough up pucks at opportune times, and of course Read getting himself into position for high percentage goals repeatedly. Read has snagged four goals and an assist during this three game stand, and has re-established himself as someone to fear if left wide open around the faceoff circles.
The most talked about player despite Read’s hot hand is Steve Downie, whose arrival back in Philly was initially a let down for some, simply because the player traded away for Downie was well liked Max Talbot. Since that time it seems that perspective has shifted heavily, with people realizing that Holmgren essentially stole Downie from the Avalanche, and his current record when being on the ice now stands at 15-3. This quality is rubbing off on his teammates, with solid results.
During last night’s game, as well as when the Flyers were down 1-0 to the Sabres, the moments when the Flyers were normally caving in and giving the game away are gone. Even when the referees decided to allow the Islanders back into the game with a host of no calls, I never felt like the Flyers were going to fade. This is the feeling a lot of other fans were having as well, I’m certain of it. The air of confidence the Flyers currently have has made things a lot less tense these days, instead of the token “oh boy, here they go again” sensation, it’s now replaced with “no worries, the Flyers will stay ahead”, and there’s no better time to be a fan when that is the mood being spread around.
Can the Flyers keep up their current trend? I believe so, they will visit Florida’s two teams this week, and should have more than a fair shot at beating the Panthers and Lightning on the road. Black Friday will feature a home tilt against the Jets who ended their prior winning streak, and this is a game I’m sure the Flyers do not want to let slip by. The way Berube has them playing, I don’t think any of these games are now, the Flyers and their fans may as well enjoy the ride.
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