It took three tries in the last week, but Philadelphia finally bested Dallas in a sporting event. Unfortunately for all the Eagles fans, it was the Philadelphia Flyers that took out the Dallas Stars last night by a 6-3 score. Fourteen players registered a point in the game, which was the most in 13 years for the orange and black.
With the recent downfall of the Eagles, most people probably haven't given the Flyers much notice, but they've quietly climbed back into the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference. Their win last night was their fourth in a row and their eighth in their last ten games. While the Flyers are currently fourth in the Atlantic Division, they are the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference at the moment, and they way that they've been playing, that number should only get better as the rest of the season continues.
What's the cause for this improvement? Quite simply, the offensive weapons that weren't working during most of November and December have clicked into gear again, and despite issues in goal, the Flyers have been scoring at will on most of their opponents. Each of their last four wins has been decided by three goals or more, and the Flyers have driven the opposing goalie out of the game twice in their current stretch. The power play is clicking as well, with the Flyers scoring on the man advantage in their last five games. They also haven't allowed a power play goal since the Winter Classic, another reason why things have started to improve for the team.
After losing both Ray Emery and Brian Boucher to injuries, things didn't look good in goal for the Flyers, but somehow, even the goalie issues have gotten better during this recent hot streak. Michael Leighton was picked off of the scrap heap, and despite only starting 60 games before this season, the journeyman goalkeeper hasn't lost a game yet, going 8-0-1 with a 2.22 goals against average for the Flyers. If you want the other reason why the Flyers have been able to improve so much over the last three weeks, Leighton's play is certainly near the top of the list. I'm not saying he can keep this level of play up, but with Ray Emery just about ready to comeback from his injury, it might just be enough for him to bounce Boucher from his backup job. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Leighton out in goal every fifth game or so instead of Boucher. At least then I would feel like the Flyers had a chance to win the game.
Regardless, it's nice to see the Flyers picking up their play again. I think most people knew that this team was too good to continue slumping like they had been for that stretch, but at least now it's out of the way. The offense is clicking, the defense is playing better, and the goaltending has improved by leaps and bounds, thanks to a career backup getting a chance to shine. Right now, the Flyers would be in the playoffs, but at this point, I want to see how far they can climb out of the hole they dug for themselves.
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