Perhaps getting away from home for a bit was just what the Philadelphia Flyers needed. A six-game losing streak was snapped during a 2-0-1 road trip, where the Flyers picked up five out of a possible six points.

That has kept them in the playoff race, as the schedule starts to wind down before the Olympic break. Just six games remain before a nearly three-week pause in the NHL schedule.

Here are my observations from this week. Here’s this week’s Flyers Files:

A Statement on the Road Trip

Talk about an up-and-down road trip for the Flyers.

Entering the trip on a six-game road trip and going to face Vegas, Utah, and Colorado, if someone had told you the losing streak would be at nine games by Saturday morning, you would have believed them.

Sure enough, the Flyers put an end to the Golden Knights’ seven-game winning streak with a 2-1 win largely powered by Travis Konecny and Sam Ersson.

Two nights later in Utah, the Flyers had a 3-0 lead early in the second and a 4-2 lead with nine minutes to play in the third period. They ultimately only got a point, as everything slipped away in the final minute of regulation and became an overtime loss.

That could have been as crushing as a loss gets. And the Flyers had the best team in the NHL to close out the trip on Friday night.

Entering the third period in a 3-3 game, the Flyers out-scored the best third-period team in the league, 4-0, on the way to a 7-3 win. Talk about a statement.

There’s no excusing the point lost in Utah that should have been captured. This could have been a perfect 3-for-3 road trip with six points in the standings. But after Wednesday’s heartbreaker, it could have just as easily been a road trip with only three points and a growing gap building between the Flyers and the rest of the playoff teams. Instead, they kept pace and could use the final result as a springboard, especially with so little runway to go before the Olympic break.

Just six games remain, and each of them could have huge implications.

There is none bigger than Monday’s game. The Flyers will face the New York Islanders, who currently occupy the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers are two points back with a game in hand. A win in regulation, and the Flyers would be back in a playoff spot.

Then there’s a road back-to-back against Columbus and Boston. Columbus has been playing better since making a coaching change. Boston has been on a tear in January.

The final three games before the break are all at home. The game on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings may have little standings implications directly, but still holds importance. Then they face Washington and Ottawa the following week.

With a three-game points streak and wins in two of the last three games, if the Flyers can turn this into an extended winning streak or points streak entering the break, it could make for an even more interesting playoff picture.

Ersson’s Bounce Back Energizes Team

The Flyers don’t have two wins this week without Sam Ersson. That’s probably not a sentence you were expecting based on recent play either.

Ersson was outstanding in Vegas, making 24 saves on 25 shots and holding down the fort in the third period, especially during late penalty kills. It was equally an important win for him personally as it was for the team.

The loss in Utah was hardly on Ersson’s alone. He certainly wears the result, but there were plenty of mistakes in front of him that contributed. That said, he was on his way to potentially a second straight win and finished with a familiar stat line: 22 saves on 27 shots.

But Ersson rebounded again in Colorado. He stopped all 17 shots faced in the first period. And while the Avalanche scored three goals on seven shots in the second, he stopped another 11 in the third to finish with 32 saves on 35 shots.

At the very least, Ersson showed that goalie is still in there somewhere. He’s capable of having games like this. Maybe it’s not consistent enough or it’s too few and far between, but he can deliver the goods. For now, the Flyers will have to take it, but if Ersson can get some of that consistency back, it would certainly help the Flyers in their pursuit of the postseason, especially with the return of Dan Vladar getting closer.

Turning Point for Michkov?

Matvei Michkov didn’t get on the board in Utah. It wasn’t for a lack of trying. The forward appeared to have plenty of jump and put seven shots on goal in the game.

His follow-up on Friday was even better. Two goals, one into an empty net, as well as an assist on the power play for a three-point game, Michkov’s best offensive showing of the season.

That was a welcome sight.

The countdown may very well be on for Michkov with six games to go until the break. Michkov has said that he plans to stay active and prepare himself for the stretch run while the NHL pauses for the Olympic schedule for nearly three weeks.

If Michkov just happens to be finding his game more and more right before that, it’s even better for the Flyers.

Even in a down season, Michkov is up to 12 goals. A strong finish could still bring him close to his rookie total in goal scoring, and provide a modest total for points after the start he had.

For a team that doesn’t seem to have much in the works for activity at the trade deadline, getting Michkov back into form and delivering regular production would almost be like an internal acquisition. It would certainly be a sight for sore eyes in the fan base, who watch Michkov under a microscope simply knowing the potential is there.

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.

Philadelphia Flyers Uniforms Through The Years

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