Sports Talk Philly: Philadelphia Sports News and Rumors

Flyers-Panthers: Postgame Review

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

This was a very different game than the one played between the Flyers and Florida Panthers a month ago. No extra time was needed this time around, as the Flyers saw their recent stretch of winning and gaining points come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Florida.

For the Flyers, it's a game that should serve as a lesson. They did not play well in the second period, certainly not well enough to put any pressure on the opposing goalie through 40 minutes. The 20-minute push in the third was great, but it was too little, too late on this night.

Let's break it down in our Postgame Review.

Panthers Hold Off Flyers Rally to Snap Winning Streak

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

For the second time on the homestand, the Flyers entered the third period down by two goals and had a fairly early response in a bid to make a comeback.

But once they got on the board, they were unable to draw any closer.

The Florida Panthers played spoiler, defeating the Flyers, 2-1, to snap the Flyers three-game winning streak and six-game points streak on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center.

Flyers-Panthers: Game 18 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Two games are down in the five-game homestand for the Flyers and so far, the results have been a smashing success. Two wins over the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks have extended the Flyers winning streak to three games and their points streak to six games.

All of this has happened against Western Conference opponents. For the first time in over two weeks, the Flyers face a team from the Eastern Conference, welcoming the Florida Panthers back to Wells Fargo Center for the second time this season.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Flyers-Blackhawks: Postgame Review

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Save the heroics and the drama. This was just a quality win for the Flyers.

The top line took care of the offense, with Sean Couturier scoring twice and Claude Giroux scoring a goal and adding two assists, and Brian Elliott had his best game in net this season. That led the Flyers to a third straight win and fifth in the last six games, continuing their recent surge.

Let's break it down in our Postgame Review.

Couturier Scores 2, Elliott Blanks Blackhawks in Flyers Win

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

On Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center, there was no dramatic comeback needed. Instead, the Flyers were much closer to the 60-minute effort they want to have and got the result for it.

Two goals by Sean Couturier and a 33-save shutout from Brian Elliott powered the Flyers in a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon.

Flyers-Blackhawks: Game 17 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Thursday's game on home ice was the perfect combination of frustrating and entertaining. The Flyers jumped to a 2-0 lead, let it slip away and fell behind 4-2 before a third-period rally and overtime winner from Shayne Gostisbehere gave them a dramatic comeback win.

The Flyers have won four of their last five games with Thursday's heroics, and they will carry that into Saturday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks fired head coach Joel Quenneville earlier this week and lost their fourth straight game on Thursday in Jeremy Colliton's first game behind the bench.

Game time is at 1 p.m.

Flyers-Coyotes: Postgame Review

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers won three games on the road trip, and you would be hard-pressed to find one that was complete and without some adversity. The Flyers still have their flaws. The only difference is they have been winning.

Those flaws showed up again on Thursday night and nearly cost the Flyers two points. Instead, a frantic rally and another game-winner in overtime from Ghost earned two points in a wild win over the Arizona Coyotes.

Let's break it down in our Postgame Review.

Gostisbehere's OT Winner Caps Flyers Comeback Win

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It was happening on home ice again for the Flyers. Two shorthanded goals allowed in 24 seconds helped Arizona erase a 2-0 lead and turn it into a 4-2 deficit and frustration was setting in.

The Flyers stayed the course this time, getting two goals in the third before Shayne Gostisbehere scored the overtime winner to give the Flyers a 5-4 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center.

Flyers-Coyotes: Game 16 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Things certainly looked bleak the last time the Flyers played on home ice, suffering a 6-1 loss to the New York Islanders and falling to 4-7-0 on the season. After a successful four-game road trip, the Flyers return with some new life and recent success, three wins in their last four games.

The first game of a five-game homestand comes against the same team the Flyers faced to close out the road trip on Monday. The Arizona Coyotes had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Flyers, and come to Philadelphia for the back end of a home-and-home.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Successful Road Trip Buys Time, But Work Just Beginning For Flyers

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

With Monday’s 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes, the Flyers had completed a four-game road trip with a 3-0-1 record and seven of a possible eight points in the standings, certainly a massive turnaround from a three-game losing streak just 10 days earlier, at least by the results.

Wins in three of four games and a loss that could have easily been a fourth win if not for sleeping through the opening seconds of overtime in San Jose brought the Flyers up to 15 points in the standings. In the crowded and highly-competitive Metropolitan Division, that is tied for third place and three points back of first.

At the very least, this quells some of the noise surrounding the team as they left on the trip. If they didn’t have success, fans would have been waiting with torches and pitchforks ready to make wholesale changes. The 3-0-1 record on the trip buys more time for a team that needed to either turn it around quickly or indeed face changes.

But this is only the beginning for the Flyers. They can be satisfied with the results of the road trip, but they should not be satisfied with the process of getting those wins, which only leaves more work ahead for the Flyers.