For the first time in five years, the Philadelphia Flyers are heading back to the playoffs. After a dramatic shootout win over the Hurricanes, the team and fans were able to celebrate. Years of frustration and poor hockey were quickly forgotten, and all that mattered was that the Flyers had run the table and were about to compete for a Stanley Cup.
While this is special for everyone involved in the organization, it means more for Travis Konecny. He has been with the organization for the past decade and has caught a lot of criticism over the years for his performance in big games. He had become the face of all the problems in the Flyers organization. However, after this season, those concerns are gone. Without the play of Konecny, the Flyers would not be celebrating a playoff birth right now.
Travis Konecny has become the clutch point producer fans hoped he would
Konecny had the reputation of a good regular-season player, but disappeared when it mattered most. Over his 10 years in Philly, he has racked up 225 goals and 319 assists for 544 points. This is an average of 26 goals, 36 assists, and 62 points a season. This season has fit right in that career average, as in 77 games, he has 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points. This marks the fourth straight season he has notched over 60 points.
While this is impressive, when the team needed him most, he usually fell short. This is especially telling in his playoff performance. In his 22 career playoff games, he has recorded one goal and seven assists for eight points. In his last trip to the playoffs, he failed to score a goal. You can not have this kind of production from someone in your top six. This will hold a team back and prevent them from reaching their full potential.
But this time things were different. During the last ten games, arguably the most important stretch of the season, he has been locked in. He has tallied two goals and six assists for eight points during this stretch. This performance was a major reason the Flyers were able to win seven of their last 10 matches and leapfrog the Islanders for the last spot in the East. This is what Flyers fans have been wanting from Konecny for years.
Now, sure, this does not guarantee he will be productive in the playoffs, but it is a very encouraging sign. It's clear that he is comfortable with the line he is on, and it's generating offense. If Konecny can continue to average nearly a point per game, the Flyers' offense becomes much more dangerous. It will be able to go up against some of the best in the league and keep them competitive. It could be what carries the Flyers on a deep playoff run.
After years of struggle, Konecny has finally become the player Flyers fans have hoped he would become. Now it's up to him to continue this strong play and lead the Flyers on a deep playoff run.
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