The Philadelphia Flyers ended their week in dramatic fashion, with a come from behind 4-3 overtime win on Sunday. Brayden Schenn scored his 22nd of the season just 38 seconds into extra time. It concluded a 2-2-0 week that had some soaring highs, and unfortunately some unexplainable lows. Lets take a look inside the numbers for the week that was.
11:
Center Sean Couturier scored his 11th goal of the season on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 11 goals is a nice season, but that simply is not enough when you are making $4.3 million dollars this year. The contract that General Manager Ron Hextall handed him has albatross written all over it.
11.7%:
Flyers power play percentage this week. They are mired in a brutal 2-17 stretch and have finally decided to change up the units. Rookie Ivan Provorov was moved up to the top power play unit with defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn. It’s about time.
66.6%:
It was another tough week for the Flyers penalty kill units. Opposing teams went 3-9 with the man advantage in the four games last week. It’s time for personnel changes. And it starts with the “top” penalty kill unit of Chris VandeVelde and Pierre Edouard Bellemare. They simply haven’t been consistent enough. When points are at a premium, Coach Dave Hakstol needs to play his best players as much as possible. There is a reason those two are fourth line players.
-27:
The plus/minus statistic for Jake Voracek. Quite simply, its embarrassing. For the second highest paid Flyer, making $8.25 million, this cannot happen and it cannot be accepted. Earlier this season, Coach Hakstol benched stud defenseman Gostisbehere and exciting rookie Travis Konecney in large part because of their defensive play. He needs to hold his star players just as accountable and not tip toe around them because of their salaries.
85:
Flyers projected point total for the season. The Flyers still have to jump three teams to get in. Toronto, New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning are all in front of the Flyers, with Carolina just a point behind and a game in hand. It will be an uphill climb. But anything is possible.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
