The Resurging Flyers

At the beginning of the season, people thought that the Flyers' bad start and poor offensive and defensive play were going to keep them out of the playoff picture. Not so fast, because they don't take kindly to that kind of talk.

Since starting the season 3-8-0, they've gone 10-5-2 and are now finally a factor in the Eastern Conference.

Flyers coach Craig Berube said of the team's latest hot streak, "It's about playing defense in general as a team. We're coming around with playing better defense, better support in all areas of the game." As you recall, Berube replaced Laviolette three games into the season and has been able to turn around this defense. They have given up two or fewer goals in the past 16 games.

The Flyers, however, will have to look for more offense, but that seems to be on the rise. The line of Sean Couturier, Matt Read, and Steve Downie has 26 points over the last 10 games. And Couturier is a plus 10 with five goals and five assists in those games.

Claude Giroux has also found this game. He has five goals and eight assists in the last 13 games after start inn the season with no goals in 15. He might make the Canadien Olympic team and looking dim for a while based on his early performance.

This is a huge turnaround for a team that did not start well and I had been bashing at this team for a while because they can't play defense and can't help Steve Mason. But now they've listened. And their defense has shown up and been able to keep the puck out of the net. They've looked better and have played together as a unit much, much better. The thing about the Flyers is, they are looking at their Pennsylvania rival, the Penguins. The Flyers know the Pens are getting all the spotlight and the wins and in order to keep up with that, you have to win as well. If you can do that, then that spotlight can turn towards you. The Flyers have to keep playing this kind of defense all season. And Craig Berube has done a great job to tighten it up and make it play better. Right now, it's all about the wins and if the Flyers can do that, they'll be into the playoffs no problem.