9 is a magical number in Philadelphia. Forever associated with Nick Foles and the miracle Super Bowl run, it currently bears a similar level of optimism for Flyers fans, who have watched their team rally to a 9-game win streak. Excitement levels may be at new highs, but for one of the more vocal leaders on the team, so are the levels of accountability.
On the surface, the Flyers handled business against Buffalo, keeping Jack Eichel off the scoresheet and rallying to a 3-1 win. Beneath it, there was a sense of complacency being battled with urgency. Giroux gave the team an early 1-0 lead, but the Sabres responded quickly and refused to give up momentum. Buffalo would go on to lead in shots by nearly 15 at one stage, forcing Carter Hart into one of his best games as a pro yet. But it was Jake Voracek who kept his team kicking and screaming.
With a pair of assists to his name, Voracek handed out one of his finest defensive showings of the season and helped cement the tone by giving Ristolainen some grief after a dirty hit.
“We didn’t deserve to win tonight.” Voracek said after the game. “We were really flat throughout the 60 minutes. Hartsy made some huge stops when we needed it and we got lucky that we won. In the end you don’t ask, but we won so like I said good two points but that’ll need to be way better on Tuesday.”
It’s intriguing that even with optimism so high, the 30-year old remains so accountable – a quality that will shine through glowingly in a team filled with young players who could easily be swallowed up by such a magical run of form.
“Every game is big especially now when you’re battling for first place in a Metro so that is no different urgency than any other games. We just try to go and win the game and sometimes it’s harder or it’s easier. Today was hard to find a way. We got Boston and Tampa coming up to one of the best teams so far. I think we play really good hockey against really good teams.”
The All-star is currently riding a +15 rating, which would be a scintillating career-high and he’s already posted 44 assists this season, just two fewer than his 2018-19 total. He’s also tied with Travis Konecny as the team’s leading scorer.
Facing the Flyers is a punishing run. It starts with a road clash against Boston before facing the Lightning, Wild and Oilers, within a seven-day stretch. The orange and black will need to be at their best and the man who is helping to ensure that happens even when the team looks to have finally run out of gas, just so happens to be having one of his greatest seasons yet.
If the Flyers really are going to mount a serious playoff charge, make no mistake, Voracek will be a key catalyst. Sure, Carter Hart is a wonderkid. Travis Konecny is having one hell of a breakout year. But when those playoff lights come on, the tensions rise, and adrenaline surges through your body like a jolt of electricity, it’s veteran leaders like Voracek who will hold himself and the rest of his teammates accountable, setting them up for success.
Photo credit: Alex Mcintyre
