Philadelphia Flyers: On The Road Again

Nov 29, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) keeps his eyes on the play during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Flyers embarked on their longest road trip of the season (6 games) which started last Saturday with a shootout victory(3-2) over the Nashville Predators.  They then followed that up with a shutout loss(2-0) to the Minnesota Wild.  The Detroit Red Wing game saw the Flyers range from slow, ugly and undisciplined to outstanding in route to a 6-3 blowout victory.  It doesn’t end until Wednesday night against the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. There seems to be a growing theme this year for the Flyers.  It’s still pretty early in the season, but these are the games within a year that seem to dictate what kind of team you’re going to get.  Problem is that with all the ups and downs already it’s really hard to tell what kind of team the Flyers are.  One thing for sure is; this team lacks a whole bunch of consistent offense.  No one can legitimately explain how all these players that have preformed so well over the years can all be in a funk at the same time.  I guess there are just too many reasons that all of them hold some form of plausibility.  There are moments where you think that maybe this is when things will start to come together then they follow it up with a flat performance.  They have climbed up the standings in the last couple of weeks so that alone gives fans some hope, but being completely honest it was against some pretty weak competition for the most part.  These Flyers should be beating the lesser teams in the NHL with regularity.  They weren’t early on, so once again I guess that should be cause for applause.  Yeah the roster has some holes in it but it also has enough talent to be beating the upper echelon teams as well.  This road trip features some quality opponents so it could go a long way in figuring out where the Flyers stand.

**Rumors are starting to go around that GM Paul Holmgren is looking to lock up goalie Steve Mason to long term contract in the next month or so.  Steve Mason might not only be the best player on the team this year he is also quite possibly the best move the GM has made in his tenure here.  So here is to hoping that it gets done before the season ends.

**Congratulations to Flyers prospects Scott Laughton(Canada), Taylor Leier(Canada), and goalie Anthony Stolarz(USA) on being selected for the World Junior Championships which starts December 26 in Sweden.

**The Flyers best line over the past couple weeks is clearly the line of Read-Couturier-Downie.

**Steve Mason has not let in more than three goals in any game since being acquired by the Flyers.

**Personal Note: I recently got back from a trip to Toronto with my wife.  We have a lot of “bucket list” items and one of mine was to see the Hockey Hall Of Fame.  If you are a diehard hockey fan and have not yet gone to see it; get off your butt and go.  Although I thought it would be bigger and the fact that it connects to a mall is a bit off-putting; what is there blew me away though.  Especially the second floor where all the enshrinements are along with the Stanley Cup.  That floor alone is well worth the price of admission.

To the great people we met in Toronto and all I can say is thanks for showing us some of the great places to see and dine in your very fine city.  Never will I ever like your Maple Leafs though.  Even if we moved there.