Perfect 10: Philadelphia Flyers Preserve their Win Streak

The Philadelphia Flyers continued their winning ways in Colorado, knocking off the Avalanche by a score of 4-3.

The Philadelphia Flyers did it again. The streak, now at 10 wins, abides.

It’s not supposed to work this way. Not in the era of the NHL salary cap, which has imposed parity in order to curb such predominance. And certainly not this season, which features a compressed schedule with numerous back-to-back games.

Yet the Flyers continue to triumph, expectations be damned. The club met the challenge of competing in the high altitude of Denver, prevailing over the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 4-3. The Orange and Black seemed to acclimate quite well to the thin air of the Mile High City. They brought an energetic game to the arena; one dare might say they played with some jam.

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The Flyers buried the Avalanche with an aggressive forecheck. The pressure forced the Avs into a number of turnovers and penalties. The highlight of the contest was delivered by Flyer winger Roman Lyubimov, who parlayed a tenacious pursuit of the puck in the offensive zone into a crucial 3rd period goal.

Lyubimov, an NHL rookie who formerly played in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, has found a home on the team’s fourth line. He forms a formidable trio with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and wing Chris VandeVelde. In the absence of defensive ace Sean Couturier, head coach Dave Hakstol frequently has entrusted the Bellemare line with the responsibility of neutralizing the opponent’s top forwards. Bellemare and his cohorts have not disappointed.

While the perfomance of the checking line has been a consistent strength for the Flyers, the team nevertheless has been compelled to find different ways to win during its run. Last night, for example, the normally potent power play unit faltered, failing to find the back of the net in three opportunities. Instead, the Flyers relied on the aforementioned forecheck and defensemen who actively sought to engage in the offensive zone. The first goal of the game, netted by Michael Del Zotto, was a direct result of the defenseman’s decision to charge toward the net after an aggressive entry into the Avs’ zone presented an opportunity to attack.

Grit. It’s an intangible quality that one might struggle to quantify, even in this age of advanced statistics. But, in a competition in which ability level is often equal, grit makes the difference. Despite its ineffability, you know it when you see it. You see it when defenders willingly throw their bodies in the way of a slap shot. You see it when forwards are skating feverishly back toward their own end after a turnover. You see it when a player stands up for a teammate and drops the gloves. You see it when a squad finds a detour when its planned path to victory is blocked. And you see it in the Philadelphia Flyers.

To be sure, the roster is brimming with talent. Established stars like Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek have meshed well with budding playmakers like Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny. Provorov in particular has provided much-needed stability on the Flyers’ blue line. His ability to move the puck out of the defensive end and negate the speed of some of the NHL’s elite forwards has been a major factor in the club’s improvement.

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However, the Flyers have established themselves as Stanley Cup contenders because of their willingness to subvert individual pursuit for the collective good. Though this winning streak will eventually end, the team’s success will endure. Sean Couturier’s impending return to the lineup should only bolster a formidable squad. Moreover, the Bellemare line’s defensive competence might relieve Couturier of some of the defensive burdens usually imposed on him, allowing him to develop his offensive game.

Get on the bandwagon, Philly. This team is going places.

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