Quick Hits: December 22, 2020
1) It appears that the NHL will release its 2020-21 regular season schedule tomorrow (Dec. 23). Additionally, and not surprisingly, it seems likely that the NHL will use AHL-like scheduling to reduce travel costs as well as potential conoravirus exposure from travel.
Specifically, it is likely that teams will often play back-to-back games in the same city with the same opponent. For example, the Flyers may have games against the Bruins in Boston on both a Tuesday and Wednesday night, and vice versa at home. That would mean just two trips to Boston (or the Bruins coming to Philadelphia twice) rather than four separate trips.
Likewise, do not be surprised if there is an emphasis on even further reducing the amount of travel by pairing up road trips and homestands with opponents from the shortest possible travel times between locales; for instance, the Flyers may play the Islanders, Rangers and Devils on the same road trip. This is not all that different from the standard annual assembly of road trips through California (LA, San Jose, Anaheim), western Canada (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary) and Florida (Tampa and Sunrise).
For a point-by-point primer on the return-to-play plan as it affects the Flyers, click here.
2) On Monday afternoon, Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault spoke via conference call with members of the media. He discussed how training camp will be structured, his expectations for the start of the season and updated the statuses of Nolan Patrick and Oskar Lindblom. For an in-depth look at five key takeaways from the press conference, click here.
3) Today in Flyers History: December 22, 1979
Prior to the 1979-80 NHL season, the longest unbeaten streak in Philadelphia Flyers history was a 23-game run (17-0-6) during the 1975-76 campaign. Four seasons later, the Flyers not only shattered the previous franchise and league records (a 28-game run by the Montreal Canadiens in 1977-78) but they went on to set a North American pro sports record with a 35-game unbeaten streak (25-0-10).
On December 22, 1979, the Flyers surpassed the Habs’ NHL record with a 5-2 win over the Bruins at Boston Garden. The victory gave the Flyers a 29-game unbeaten streak (20-0-9).
Ken “the Rat… Linseman’s goal in the opening minute of the second period gave the Flyers a 3-0 lead after Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber scored in the first period. After the Bruins struck back quickly for two goals, Jim Watson built a 4-2 lead with a goal just 30 seconds after Mike Milbury had cut the Boston deficit to a single goal.
Bob “the Hound… Kelly restored a three-goal cushion midway through the third period. Defenseman Mike Busniuk collected a pair of assists, while winning goaltender Phil Myre stopped 18 of 20 shots compared to the 13 saves made by Gilles Gilbert.
The game also featured multiple fights, including a lengthy grappling match between Paul Holmgren and John Wensick and, simultaneously, a one-sided beatdown of rookie Boston defenseman Ray Bourque by Flyers captain Mel Bridgman. Late in the third period, truculent Flyers defenseman Behn Wilson dropped the gloves with Boston scrapper Stan Jonathan.
Following the Flyers win in Boston, Philly would rattle off five wins and one tie in its next six games to bring the unbeaten streak to 35 games. The streak finally ended with a 7-1 road loss to the Minnesota North Stars on January 7, 1980.