Some questions all year surrounding Shayne Gostisbehere has been what’s wrong with Ghost? At times throughout the year, he has struggled Defensively like his counterpart Ivan Provorov has the majority of the season. Fortunately, Ghost’s overall game has been better overall for the past three weeks or so.
The Flyers once Quarterback of the top Power Play Unit knows that the PP is one key to success, “Obviously, we want better results throughout the game,” Gostisbehere said. “The PP will allow us to get back into games. It will help us in future games. We have to be consistent in this area.”
Unfortunately, the Flyers Power Play has been dreadful for the majority of the season, and this is one reason they currently sit 7th in the Metropolitan Division. A few years ago the orange and black were dynamite with the man advantage, since then it’s been like a power outage. The Flyers currently own the 30th best PP in the league and have a success rate of 13.3%, which is well below the league average of 19.9%. Moreover, the orange and black have tallied 19 PP goals for, which is also well below the league average of 30. With how talented this bunch is, it’s unbelievable they are this bad with the man advantage,
“When you hit 4 posts against Nashville, I mean it’s tough,” Ghost said. “It’s pretty cliché to say stick with it, stick with it, but that’s what we have to do. I’ve been in the league for 4 years now. You’re going to have ups and downs, but I think we’re on the cusp of turning the page.”
Ghost is a Veteran that hails from the great state of Florida. For three years Ghost attended a very good hockey college of Union College in Upstate New York, until he eventually he found himself playing for the Adirondack Phantoms in 2013-14, to which they became the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2014-15. Ghost quickly became an integral part of the Flyers Power Play in 2015-16, which was his first full season with the orange and black. For his rookie campaign, Ghost tallied 8 PP goals, as he owned a rocket from the point. Moreover, the way he is able to hold the puck in on the blue line while on the Flyers are on the man advantage, cannot be taken for granted either. Since his coming out party in 2015-16, Ghost has registered 11 PP goals, which includes the 2018-19 season, as well.
This young 25-year-old in Ghost was primed and ready for a big season this season. Unfortunately, it’s been anything but blissful, as he’s only registered 5 goals (2 PP goals), and 15 assists for a total of 20 points in 48 games played. These numbers are way down from his career year he set last season when he finished 10th in the league in the Norris Trophy Voting (Awarded to the Best Defenseman). For the 2017-18 season, Ghost tallied 13 goals (7 PP goals) and registered 52 assists in 78 games played.
To put this season into perspective, Ghost’s production this season will be half of what he produced last season. To make matters worse, Ghost has been placed on the 2nd PP unit the past few games, “I mean I’m definitely on the ice for a lot of goals against…I’m not happy about that,” Ghost said. “But, my play with the puck, I’m taking care of it a lot more. But, my play without the puck I’m trying to control the Defensive side, pick my sports to get up in the play, and hopefully it continues to help this team a lot more.”
The Professional in Ghost continues, “This team we have. Last year we lost 10 in a row, and we dug ourselves out of this hole. This team this year, I wouldn’t put it past us to do the same.”
There is little doubt in my mind that Ghost and the Flyers will do a better job with the man advantage. Ghost has always been a man of his word, and when he says the Flyers will better on the PP. Well, gosh darn it then they will be better with the man advantage. Ghost is a true Flyer, and there’s no doubt in my mind that this former Union Dutchmen product can right the ship this season.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
