The Flyers had a nine-game point streak heading into tonight’s game (7-0-2 dating to Nov. 30), according to NHL stats. However, the Nashville Predators came into Philadelphia on Thursday night and snapped that point streak with a determined effort. Let’s wrap:
Saros Once Again Solid for Nashville
Last week, it was an impressive effort in Nashville from Preds goalie Jusse Saros. He wasn’t stellar in this Predators win, but he was solid between the pipes and made the timely, difficult save when needed. According to NHL stats, Saros recorded his 162nd career win and passed Tomas Vokoun for sole possession of second most in Predators history. In many ways, this win for Nashville looked a lot like the Flyers wins recently; hardworking and tenacious with rock solid goaltending sprinkled in.
Cam Atkinson’s Scoring woes Continue
Seemingly once a game, it feels that Flyers veteran Cam Atkinson ends up with a breakaway and can’t finish the play off. The 34 year-old is now mired in a 17-game goal-less drought. To compound matters, Atkinson also lost a neutral zone battle that led to the Predators game winning goal.
Atkinson’s impact isn’t nearly as effective if he’s not scoring goals as that is his past quality so the Flyers will need to do something with him here. Perhaps even a night in the pressbox would do the former one-time 40 goal winger some good. Not as a punishment per say, but as an opportunity to reset mentally. I’m sure a drought like this is weighing on him.
Did You Know?
Morgan Frost’s good-luck goal at 1:31 of the first period was the Flyers sixth goal in the opening two minutes of a game this season which is tied for the most with the Oilers (6), according to NHL stats.
On Deck
Quick Turnaround for the orange and black, as they head to Detroit Friday for a matchup with the Red Wings, 7:00 pm puck drop.
