The New Year is upon us! Just as quickly as we all predicted it would go. Just like how all of us predicted the Flyers would be 4th in the Metro one point behind Carolina (1 game in hand) and the Islanders right?! The first part of this article saw the Flyers with 23 points unsure of their own path this season set just outside of the playoffs. Fast forward and the Flyers are the biggest surprise this year. Firmly in a playoff position prime to reap rewards at the deadline if Danny Briere plays his cards right.
Out of a possible 10 points up for grabs the Flyers finished the trip with 1 win, 2 losses, and 2 overtime losses. 4 points secured out of 10, not the worst in recent years, certainly more competitive as well. If the team has any hopes of continuing their playoff push, the next few games against Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Montreal, must win games to right the ship. Calgary comes back to town Saturday the 6th, revenge is necessary especially if you ask Owen Tippett….
Now that the annual Christmas road trip has came and went, let’s review how the boys fared this year game by game.
Remember, the Flyers prior to this trip were a combined 3-20-4 in the last 7 seasons spent on the road during this stretch. Hopes were much higher this season with the boys heading into the road trip playing very strong hockey!
Game One December 22nd: First game we saw the Flyers take on the Detroit Red Wings in a slugfest before Santa arrived. Patrick Kane, of course it had to be Kane, would start the scoring for Detroit netting 2 goals in the first 8 minutes of the game. Bobby Brink would score for the Flyers, followed by an avalanche of Detroit goals. The first period would end 5-1 Detroit, and the road trip seemed to be off to a roaring start….or was it?
Tortorella seemed to get through to the guys in a way he only can, as the Flyers would score twice in the second period bringing the game closer 3-5 Detroit. The third period was all Philadelphia as the goals kept coming. The Flyers would score 3 more goals to take the lead 6-5, that’s 5 unanswered goals to come all the way back! Detroit Captain Dylan Larkin would tie the game 6-6 in the closing 5 minutes. Flyers would eventually fall in the shootout. A magnificent comeback performance saw the Flyers earn 1 point.
Game Two Dec 28th: The second game of the roadtrip the Flyers found themselves in Vancouver! The Canucks were riding a 9 game point streak as 1 of the hottest teams in the League. Many of us had this as a marked loss on the calendar. Sure enough, the Flyers would erupt for 3 goals in the second period taking a 3-0 lead into the third. The first 3 goal second period Vancouver allowed all season. Egor Zamula would start it off on the PowerPlay! Sam Ersson would exit early in the third period due to hydration shortly after Vancouver’s first goal. Carter Hart would step in cold after missing some games to illness, and end up closing the door! Garnet Hathaway would score another shorthanded goal as the Flyers won 4-1 in Vancouver. 2 points.
Game Three Dec 29th: Following the dominant win in Vancouver, the boys headed to Seattle to take on the Kraken. The Flyers would strike first in this one off of yet another shorthanded goal from Travis Konecny. The game would go scorless until the Third period where Seattle’s Vince Dunn would tie the game on the Power Play. Justin Schultz would end the game quickly in overtime, Seattle takes it. 1 point.
Game Four Dec 31st: Calgary was stop number four on this Christmas road trip. The Flames off to another poor start welcome the Flyers fresh off an overtime loss in Seattle. Rasmus Ristolainen would start the party for the Flyers scoring a beauty in on the rush with the offense. The rest of the first period would stay scoreless, as Calgary would then get the lone tally in the 2nd period to tie the game.
The third period was a bit of a scramble, the Flames would score twice to take a 3-1 lead down to the last 5 minutes. Coach Torts would pull the goalie early and cash in with a quick goal 3-2 now. Unfortunately, the ensuing faceoff a disastrous bonehead play from Owen Tippett would give the Flames a 4-2 lead on the empty net. With the net empty once more, the Flyers would rally to bring the game within one as Big Z would rip another from the point. The Flyers would come dangerously close to scoring in the final 20 seconds but would ultimately fall 4-3. 0 points.
Game five January 2nd: The final game of the Christmas road trip brought the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton on a 5 game win streak looked to beat a fresh beaten Flyers team. The game started with a tight pace as both teams gave no leverage early. Unfortunately for the Flyers, all it takes is 1 step and Connor McDavid will punish you. McDavid had the loan first period tally. Zach Hyman scored early to take a 2-0 lead in the second. The Flyers would battle back to tie the game 2-2 from Travis Konecny and Team Grandpa Marc Stall. A penalty taken late would spell doom for the Flyers in this game. Ryan Nugent Hopkins would score a Power Play Goal in the last minute of the 2nd. The Flyers would never recover, as Edmonton would tally 2 more in the Third Period. Edmonton clears the Flyers at home 5-2. 0 points.
By: Anthony Spotts (@SpottsonGoal)
photo credit: @NHLFlyers
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