Heading into Thursday\u2019s slate of games, the Philadelphia Flyers find themselves needing to leapfrog over six teams to land the second wildcard spot. They still have 72 games left, and there\u2019s plenty of time to right the ship. The fly in the ointment is that a handful of those clubs have three games in hand on the Flyers, with Columbus having four games in hand and just three points back. No other National Hockey League team has played more games. And at 3-6-3, they still have a lot of work to do to escape the hole they put themselves in. <\/p>\n
However, they keep chipping away. A win against Buffalo on Wednesday night was highlighted by Cole Knuble\u2019s first two goals of his NHL career. Dan Vladar was also spectacular throughout, making one great save after another. But one of the biggest positives to emerge from the victory was the power play. Yes, the power play that essentially couldn\u2019t buy a goal most of the first nine games has somehow managed to turn itself on a dime, and looks far more potent then at any time in recent memory. Entries seem to be almost a given now. Passes are crisp and quick. There\u2019s no hesitation. And in the last three games, the Flyers are clicking at 30 per cent effectiveness. Not a typo. Nor should there be a decimal in there. They\u2019ve looked much, much better.<\/p>\n
So why is this power play that looked pathetic as recent as 10 days ago now resembling something that could be a difference maker in a good way? It\u2019s not just one thing that has altered its course, but a handful of subtle moves that is making all the difference in the world. We take a look at a few of them here, and if this little run of three games with a power play goal is sustainable the rest of the way.<\/p>\n
Fountain of youth<\/p>\n
The Flyers are currently 26th overall in power play effectiveness in the NHL at 13.9 per cent. The optimist could look at the season\u2019s game logs, and note that, outside of two three-game droughts where they were a combined 0-for-16, Philadelphia is humming at a 5-for-20 pace, or 25 per cent. Of course, their record right now is somewhere in between, hence the 13.9 per cent. But one thing that seems to be changing the look of the power play is the personnel being used. After 12 games, there are seven players who have over 18 minutes of power play time: Trevor Zegras (34:48), Matvei Michkov (34:19), Jamie Drysdale (31:28), Tyson Foerster (29:31), Porter Martone (25:31), Denver Barkey (21:10), and David Jiricek (18:39). And the ages of those seven? Well, 25, 21, 24, 24, 19, 21, and 22 years, respectively.<\/p>\n
Of course, injuries to Travis Konecny, Cam York, and Owen Tippett have, perhaps, put these younger players into more prominent roles by necessity. On the other hand, these youngsters seem to have a better feel or pulse on this new power play. Whether it\u2019s the quick entries, the ability to maintain possession with simple but quick tape-to-tape passes, or just reading what the penalty killers are giving them, and acting accordingly, the last three games have \u2014 at least on the eye test \u2014 seen more accurate passes and reads than the previous nine games combined. It\u2019s rare for any Flyer on the first unit now to hold onto the puck for three or four seconds. Or skate themselves into a position on the ice where there\u2019s a low percentage of success, and an extremely high chance of a turnover, or short-handed opportunity.<\/p>\n
It seems rather simple, but it\u2019s exciting to watch a power play that has some kind of scheme or plan in place. It\u2019s a far cry from the last few seasons where players over 25 years of age seemed intent on maintaining possession in the hopes the penalty killers would all break their sticks, go for a line change, fall down on the ice, or spontaneously combust simultaneously. This power play looks new, fresh, and vibrant. We\u2019ll take it.<\/p>\n
Using some deeper numbers, we can see just how well the Flyers are clicking on the man advantage and that could eventually translate to fixing one of the biggest problems. Looking under the hood and not just at goal totals, this team is getting their chances.<\/p>\n
Goals for\/60Shots for\/60Shot attempts\/60Unblocked shot attempts\/60Expected goals for\/605.0 (27th in NHL)52.0 (12th)105.0 (11th)80.0 (10th)10.73 (7th)<\/p>\n
Aside from actually putting the puck in the net, the Flyers undoubtedly have an above-average power play that is crawling towards being top 10 in the league. They are having no problem getting their chances, but now it\u2019s all up to actually putting the puck in the net.<\/p>\n
And lately, they are doing that.<\/p>\n
Perfect example? Wednesday night in Buffalo<\/p>\n
A perfect example of this was Philadelphia\u2019s power play goal late in the first Wednesday night against Buffalo. With just under 52 seconds left in the period,, and 43 left in the man advantage, Zegras carries the puck up ice. Barkey is just behind him, Martone between center ice and the blueline against the boards to the left of Zegras, Michkov almost in the same spot on the other side of the ice, and Drysdale hovering just outside the offensive blueline. The five-man unit looks exactly how it should. Zegras has options here, not trying to dipsy-doodle between two defenders to gain the blueline. By having Michkov and Martone there, the Sabres defence can\u2019t really do much. Pinch and risk one of the wingers having a near breakaway chance down the wing. Should they lay back, Zegras gets the entry easily. <\/p>\n
A Michkov shot on goal is finished off by Zegras out front<\/p>\n
Drys picks up the secondary assist #LetsGoFlyers<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lUaD8MGLBb<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/1ozlcZQAhs<\/a><\/p>\n