flyers game
Now that the Philadelphia Flyers have put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season the question on every fans mind is has the team turned a corner or is this just an aberration?
flyers game
It is my opinion that the Flyers have indeed turned a corner and it may surprise some people as to when exactly that turn was made or who it was responsible for leading the way.
flyers game
Rewind for a moment to last Wednesday. The Flyers were in the midst of their latest miserable effort, this one against the New York Islanders, when the second period was coming to a close. Islander forward Andy Hilbert was unhappy with one of the Flyers and just as the horn sounded to end the stanza he tried to "take liberties" with this Flyer forward.
flyers game
Perhaps he saw an opportunity to spark a deflated team, perhaps he was sick and tired of watching first hand what was happening to this team or perhaps he was just looking for a fight.
flyers game
Whatever the reason, Sami Kapanen, clearly the Flyers best player and clear-cut on ice leader this season, decided enough was enough and he fought back. Following Kapanen's cue, Mike Richards, Freddy Meyer and Ben Eager all came flying into the fray in defense of their teammate.
flyers game
It was a scene that was probably viewed across the league as commonplace but for a team described by some as devoid of any chemistry and heartless at times this was a turning point in my view.
flyers game
The Flyers lost that game but they did come out in the third period and outplayed the Islanders, hitting two posts and scoring the only goal.
flyers game
The momentum continued to build over the next two games despite the fact that they lost both contests in heartbreaking fashion on late goals, Saturday at home, in what was at the time possibly their best all-around effort of the season, against Buffalo and then Monday night in Pittsburgh.
flyers game
Even the most casual hockey fan could see the change in the Flyers attitude over these two contests. Led by the likes of Kapanen, Richards, Geoff Sanderson and the prodigal Petr Nedved the Flyers had seemingly regained their confidence. You no longer saw the team collectively drop their shoulders when they fell behind, there was no more standing around flat footed in their own zone and the team seemed poised to take this new found confidence and their returning captain, new skates and all, to the west coast.
