Previous Ranking: 16 (-3)
Team Record: (3-3-1)
Player of the Week: Jakub Voracek (3gp 3g 1a 4pts)
Special Teams
PP: (7-for-26) 26.9 percent (5th)
PK: (7-for-26) 73.1 percent (22nd)
Goaltending
It looked as though Michal Neuvirth might have an edge coming into the new season with a solid showing at the World Cup of Hockey. So far, it’s Steve Mason that has been the most impressive of the two. In the last seven days alone, Mason has collected two wins in three starts with a 2.33GAA and .917 save percentage. He’ll need to continue the hot play if he hopes to secure a contract to stay with the Flyers beyond 2016-17.
Defense
Mark Streit’s performance in a 4-3 win versus Buffalo ranks as one of the Flyers top individual showings through seven games. He helped propel the offense with a goal and two assists and was a large reason Philly walked away with two points. Other bright spots continue to be Philadelphia’s youth movement. Shayne Gostisbehere had two points in four games this past week and now has four points in seven games total. Ivan Provorov racked up three helpers over the past four contests, but that -5 vs. Chicago on Oct.18 continues to haunt his overall stat line.
Forwards
The Flyers continue to receive decent production from their top three lines despite the record. There was a bit of juggling in the bottom six over the last seven days, but it hasn’t seemed to slow Matt Read any. He added two more goals for a total of five in seven games.
Philly’s top line of Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, and Brayden Schenn combined for three goals, seven assists (10 points) over the last four games. eight of 10 points came on the man-advantage though as the trio put up -7 plus/minus rating, struggling at even strength.
The second line of Jakub Voracek, Sean Couturier, and rookie Travis Konecny combined for four goals, four assists (eight points) over the past week. For a guy (Konecny) that scouts pegged as a defensive liability, he’s sure proving those doubters wrong.