This is New: Two in a Row? - By: Jessica Hess
Photo Credit- Frankie James- Olde City Sports Network
2/2/22- Alright Philly, I’m not saying anything (for fear of jinxing) … but what is going on in the Philadelphia Flyers world? Okay fine, it’s ONLY a 2-game win streak, but because this season includes a 10-game AND a 13-game losing skid, at this point, ANY string of wins feels like a blessing. Saturday’s matinee game against the LA Kings provided the Flyers with the “W,” but only in overtime. In my opinion, this game felt like a fluke and I’m sure I’m not alone.. (and to be honest, the win was a little bit of a disappointment because why not try to break the whole NHL record for games without a win. AM I RIGHT? No? Okay…) Fast forward 3 days later, and the boys found themselves ending their Tuesday night with another win, this time against the Winnipeg Jets in regulation. Let’s just jump right into these games, shall we?
It was a VERY snow-covered afternoon in Philadelphia as the Flyers took on the Los Angeles Kings at the Wells Fargo Center. The boys were coming into the game with a franchise record 13-game losing streak. Things were looking bleak considering the Kings absolutely ruined the Fly-Guys 6-3 just 28 days before, on New Year’s Day. The boys blew a 3-1 lead in the third period when the Kings scored twice. The Kings pulled Jonathan Quick and the game-tying goal came from Anze Kopitar with just 37.4 seconds left in the game. (UGH!) Not a lot of action in OT (the Kings recorded zero shots, and the Flyers only 2,) but the game-winning beauty came from Scott Laughton, who potted the rebound from Cam Atkinson. FLYERS WON A GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR!
WINNING ONE GAME after 13 straight losses felt like a fluke to me. Tuesday’s game against the Jets was just one of those bad feelings for me, and I have no explanation for it (am I alone or…?) And considering the Jets scored just 48 seconds into the game, I thought my lackluster inhibition was going to serve me right. Connor Hellebuyck was like a damn brick wall in the first period, stopping 12/12 shots the Flyers threw at him. BUT little did we know that the boys would break Hellebuyck, and the Jets’ first period goal would be the only one they would get passed Carter Hart, who was rock solid for the rest of the game. In the second period, Travis Konecny tied it up with a gorgeous snipe over defenseman Ville Heinola’s stick and into the net. Late into the third, Laughton and James van Riemsdyk find themselves on a 2-on-1 after a Jets giveaway. Laughton shoots into Hellebuyck’s pad, and JVR rips home the rebound to take the lead. Oskar Lindblom ices the cake with a long-range empty netter. And just like that, we have ourselves a little streak, boys and girls. Take a picture.
The Flyers held out over these 2 games, but now they head into the All-Star break and won’t play again until February 9th (ONE WEEK!) against the Detroit Red Wings. Who knows how this weeklong break will fair for the Flyers? On one hand, the last time they had a long break (5 days,) they lost each game on both sides of the off stretch. But on the other, they won both games before and after the very long Christmas break (11 days.) Fingers crossed that the boys are able to make it 3 in a row! Only time will tell, so come back next Wednesday after the All-Star Festivities!!
-Jessica Hess- Flyers Alley/ Olde City Sports Network