With 12:22 left in the 2nd, the Flyers got a powerplay. With 10:50 left in the 2nd, the Flyers scored their first of 2 power-play goals on the night. What happened before the goal showed why this Flyers team isn’t dead just yet.
For the 1:32 leading into the goal, it was a flurry of Flyers shots and pressure. None bigger than the highway robbery Stars goalie, Ben Bishop, committed on Flyers Wayne Simmonds.
Very tall Ben Bishop gets his skate on Wayne Simmonds' shot, robbing him of a PPG. pic.twitter.com/PhhiGtURwZ
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 17, 2017
However, the Flyers kept the pressure and shots coming and beat Bishop. The surging Flyers showed no mercy and had a total of 4 shots on the power-play before Gostisbehere scored.
The second powerplay goal came more easier. In OT, with the teams already at 3v3, the Flyers power-play was 4v3. A lot more open space and open ice.
After a net-mouth mix-up, where Simmonds was having his stick held by Stars goalie Ben Bishop, Gostisbehere fired one by him easily. Due to Bishop holding Simmonds stick, he never got reset and Gostisbehere fired it by him without ease.
“I don’t know what he was doing to be honest with you.” Simmonds said. “He might have thought it was his stick because his stick was jammed up in between us at first.”
The Flyers power-play is operating at a 27% rate (6/22) on this 6-game winning streak. A stat-line much better than what they operated at in November, 14%.
“Some of the games lately, the power play hasn’t been what we want it to be.” Giroux said. “But, that’s one thing the five of us and the coach we really talk about, trying to find ways to be creative. We had a lot of chances and the movement of the puck was well and we try to keep building on it.”
Here are 4 more observations from the Flyers 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars…
Shayne Gostisbehere
If Gostisbehere missed tonight’s game for any reason, the Flyers would have lost. Why? Well, Gostisbehere added two power-play goals to lead the Flyers to victory.
The first coming after the Flyers manhandled the Stars in the 2nd period. Gostisbehere’s first power-play on the night was the Flyers 5th shot on that power-play.
https://twitter.com/FlyersNation/status/942205534119194624
The second coming in OT for the game winning goal. Gostisbehere had all the net in the world to shoot at. The reason because Ben Bishop was having stick issues.
Voracek's shot deflects wide, but Gostisbehere dives and beats Bishop! 1-1 pic.twitter.com/kCMolaUHgp
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 17, 2017
“We’re doing our thing working hard. We’re going to go ‘em.” Gostisbehere said. “It’s a big point of the game and us capitalizing really helped us out tonight.”
The goals were Gostisbehere’s 5th and 6th on the season.
Finding A Way
For the second straight game, the Flyers fought back from an early 1-0 deficit for the victory. Tonight’s victory was harder due to it being against a more physical western conference foe, the Dallas Stars. But, the Flyers were up to the task.
If this Flyers season needs a motto, its fight back. After losing 10 straight in November, the Flyers have started December by winning 6 straight. Just like after losing 10 straight, the Flyers are finding ways to fight back in recent games.
“I think it’s confidence, swagger, whatever you want to attach to it is a big part of this game.” Coach Dave Hakstol said. “You can ask anybody, that’s a big part. You can be playing really well, but when you’re going good you just have that as a group you have that mentality that you’re not going to take less than finding a way to win a game.”
How? They are capitalizing on the other teams mistakes. The Flyers won tonight strictly because the Stars took to many penalties. Dallas took 6 penalties tonight. The Flyers scored on two of them.
“Our mindset is a lot better right now.” Giroux said. “I think we take care of pucks. We make the simple play, the right play and it is kind of working for us right now. We have to keep building on that.”
The worst part for Dallas? They took one in overtime. Penalties in OT are sure fire goals because of the additional open ice due to it being a 4v3 power-play.
Elliott In A Zone
For the 6th straight game, Elliott made timely saves for the Flyers and picked up the win. Along with the streaking Flyers, Elliott is also riding the same wave the Flyers are on. Due to Michal Neuvirth’s injury, Elliott has had to deal with double duty. Elliott has now started 7 straight games.
“Brian does such a good job on a daily basis of approaching his day of work.” Coach Dave Hakstol said. “I think that is something guys can feed off of. They know he does the work. He is prepared. I think that gives everyone a level of confidence.”
During the 6-game winning streak, Elliott has not given up more than 2 goals in a game. What is even more impressive is his stat line. Elliott is 6-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .949 % during that stretch.
Playoffs?
Just 2 weeks ago, before the Flyers went west for 3 games in Western Canada, Flyers fans were calling for firings and trades. However, GM Ron Hextall still believed his team was good enough to make the playoffs.
“I still believe we’re a playoff team.” GM Ron Hextall said before the Flyers 9th straight loss back on November 28th.
Now, fast forward, a 6-game winning streak and the Flyers are more alive than ever. After tonight’s win, the Flyers currently sit at 14-11-7 on the season, good for 35 points. That sits the Flyers firmly in the last man out spot just 4 points from a playoff spot. However, they have a game in hand on both of the teams in-front of them. So, that means the Flyers could actually only be 2 points out if they win that game in hand. But, it gets better.
Why? Well, the Flyers opened the season with a western conference heavy led schedule. So, for the Flyers to be only 4 points out and have only played 9 out of their 32 games against the East, is a huge positive for their playoff hopes. If the Flyers can have the same success they had over tougher western conference teams, than the playoffs aren’t far-fetched. A tremendous result and turnaround after Flyers fans were calling for trades and firings.
Result : Flyers 2 – Stars 1, WIN
Record : 14 – 11 – 7
Next Game : 12/18 LA Kings, Philadelphia PA, 7:00pm
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
