There's a lot to like about the Flyers chances going into the Olympic break.
They've won four in a row, five of their last six games.
Their power play and penalty kill are ranked in the NHL's top 10.
They have outscored opponents 20-9 in the last six games.
Goalies Steve Mason (5GP) and Ray Emery (1GP) have combined for a 1.34 GAA and .958 save percentage over that span.
Craig Berube is on the short list of NHL Coach of the Year candidates with the way he's turned this club around. The Flyers are among the top five records in the league since his arrival.
And coming out of the break, when the stretch run begins, there are 23 games in 46 days with 14 at home where the Flyers are playing better this season than on the road.
You gotta like the Flyers chances to make a playoff run and nail down either the second or third spot in the Metro. Catching the Rangers and proving to themselves that they can beat the Rangers should be among their post-Olympic goals.
Given how well things are going, most of them would have preferred to keep it rolling.
"During the last stretch of six or seven games we’ve tightened up and really not given teams that much," Emery said after Saturday's 2-1 win over Calgary.
"I think it was a great stretch heading into this break. We talked about it before those six or seven games that we could either put ourselves in a good position or play ourselves out of it. Fortunately, we’ve put ourselves in a pretty good spot going further in the year."
I really like how Emery has tried very hard to "fit" in this system where his starts are few and very far between. It's simply not an easy adjustment and he's done well with it. Let's face it. The Flyers don't give him the same goal support they give Mason. He has to work harder to get his wins.
And he hasn't complained one iota all season. He says the right things after every game. How many times over the past two seasons did Ilya Bryzgalov say the right things after every game?
"I think the team is getting comfortable with the way we are expected to play," Emery said. "I think the rest of the year is not so much easier, but you get into the playoff battles and you get those competitive juices flowing.
"I think the tough part is out of the way, the tough months are normally January and February and it gets a bit long."
Another thing I like going into the break is how the Flyers are getting contributions from their entire lineup. Not one line is setting things ablaze.
Brayden Schenn's unit with Vinny Lecavalier - who still is not getting enough shots on left (1-2 a night) _ and Wayne Simmonds really pushed the envelope against Calgary.
“Obviously it’s a good feeling going into the break on this streak," Simmonds said. "It sucks having to stop now.
"Obviously we want to carry some momentum in, but when we get back, I keep saying we’ve just got to focus in and when we have that week of practice we’ve just got to work our butts off and get back into it.”
Added Schenn, "We knew this was going to happen, even before the season started. We knew the break was going to happen. There’s nothing you can do about it. But it’s up to us to keep in shape so when we come back we’re ready to go again."
With how well your playing are you sorry in a way to see the Olympic break, Berube was asked?
"Yeah, like I said before it is what it is," he replied. "Everybody is in the same boat. Yeah you’re on a roll so you want to keep playing but there’s nothing we can do about it so you’ve just got to work around it.
"Our players have to first be ready to go before we start practicing. I know you’re going to take some time off and stuff but make sure you’re staying in shape and doing the right things so you’re ready to go.
"We get practice time here. We get five, six days in of practice and then you’ve got a big stretch of games. The key is to be ready to go before we start practicing and not work your way into practice. I want to get going right away when we get back and practice fast and hard to get ready."
Flyers return to the ice for practice on Feb. 19.
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