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Meltzer's Musings: Sunny Day in Philadelphia, Phantoms Win 6th in a Row

November 10, 2013, 10:45 AM ET [162 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
SUNNY DAY IN PHILADELPHIA

The Philadelphia Flyers could not undo the damage of 10 regulation losses and an overtime loss in a single day. They could not realistically score enough goals in one game to lift their 30th-ranked offense out of the bottom spot in the NHL.

What the Flyers could do was go out yesterday and play the game right way. They could restore a measure of offensive self-confidence and show they can handle adversity when it arises. That's exactly what the Flyers did in capturing a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the Wells Fargo Center.

It does not matter that the Oilers are the bottom-ranked defensive team in the NHL. The Flyers would not have won had they not won the battles and done the things that lead to potential scoring chances and goals.

The Flyers outmuscled the Oilers down low throughout the game. They gave the Oilers fits in covering the points and the third forward high in the zone. These players found the seams and converted chances when teammates got the puck to scoring areas.

That's how both of the Flyers first two goals were scored. They won the forechecking battles. Mark Streit got pucks to scoring areas and there were forwards there to convert.

The first goal, a deflection by Jay Rosehill, came after some good forechecking work by Zac Rinaldo and a D-to-D pass from Nicklas Grossmann to Streit. Rosehill steered Streit's low and deflectable shot past Devan Dubnyk.

On the second goal, after an errant shot by Scott Hartnell, Streit retrieved the puck up high. Hartnell got wide open at the top of the right circle, and Streit found him with a perfect pass. Hartnell didn't do anything fancy with his shot. He just rid of it quickly from a good shooting angle and it found the net.

The Flyers had to handle some adversity in this game as the Oilers twice shaved two-goal deficits to one. There were some turnovers and sloppy coverages that contributed to David Perron's second period power play goal and Taylor Hall's third period even-strength tally. The bottom line, though, was that the mistakes did not snowball. The Flyers responded properly to each of the two Edmonton goals: rather than wilting, they went right back to work in re-establishing control of the game.

The biggest news of the day was Claude Giroux breaking out of his season-long goal drought. This was a highly encouraging sequence all the way around. First of all, it was a case of Philly turning defense into counterattacking offense.

Jakub Voracek made a good play at the defensive blueline to create a turnover at get the puck to Giroux. The Flyers captain gained the blueline and made a sharp inside cut -- something he hasn't been able to do much this season and which has been an effective weapon for him previously in his career. Giroux found a shooting lane for himself from the top of the left circle and snapped a shot past Dubnyk.

On the Flyers' last goal, which restored a two-goal cushion, Brayden Schenn fended off a defenseman and occupied the puck behind the Edmonton net. Vincent Lecavalier finished off the play from a flat angle along the right side. Matt Read drew the secondary assist.

Steve Mason turned in a solid, workmanlike effort in goal. He did not have much chance on either Edmonton goal and came up with some momentum saves when needed. Mason even joined in the Giroux goal celebration; skating to the bench to congratulate the team captain.

That celebratory moment was a telling one, however. Throughout the Flyers' struggles this season, Mason has been the team's best player. He has consistently given the team a chance to win and, beyond that, has been a good teammate. He has never once has griped about a lack of support, either offensively or defensively.

The Flyers pretty much did everything they needed to do yesterday. To establish genuine forward momentum, those things need to be built upon in a difficult three-game-in-four-night road trip to come.

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PHANTOMS REEL OFF SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN

Terry Murray has the Adirondack Phantoms overachieving of late. The team has reeled off six straight wins, including back-to-back shutouts. The Flyers' AHL affiliate has been getting strong defense, stellar goaltending and has been spreading around just enough offense to win games. The Phantoms have yielded just four goals over the last six games.

Yesterday, the Phantoms captured a 2-0 win over Albany. Yann Danis stopped all 26 shots he faced and first period goals by Rob Bordson and Ben Holmstrom stood up the rest of the way. Rookies Nick Cousins and Mark Alt assisted on the second goal.

The Phantoms return to action today at 3 p.m. for their third game in as many days. Today's opponent is the New York Islanders' farm team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

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On the International Ice Hockey Federation's official Web site, I take an in-depth look at one of the many innovations that the late Fred Shero brought to the NHL: studying and adapting European hockey tactics to fit the small-rink game. For more on Shero's contributions in the realm of studying and adapting international hockey to the NHL, click here.


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