PHILADELPHIA – On January 6th, after the Flyers beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2, they sat two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first in the Metro Division.
If you asked anyone around the Flyers then, optimism was growing to reach their goal for the season. A playoff race and ultimately a playoff appearance for the first time in five seasons was in their grasps.
Unfortunately, that optimism has quickly faded away as the Flyers have fallen to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Sitting now tied for second last and eight points out of a playoff spot.
What happened you ask? Well, it starts with their play on the ice.
Everything the Flyers seemed to be doing well to start the season has just not been the same over the past three weeks.
In their last 12 games, the Flyers have won just twice. Their record of 2-8-2 is third worst during this stretch.
They have allowed a total of 55 goals, the most of any team, and have the worst goal differential at -24.
It’s not just one thing that has gone wrong either.
Injuries have plagued them during this stretch. None bigger than missing starter Dan Vladar for six games.
The more worrisome part to their struggles comes in their leadership and its ability to stop the bleeding. Something that Travis Konecny couldn’t hold back any longer after last night’s 6-3 loss in Boston.
“I’ve been through this so many times. Im tired of missing the playoffs,” Konecny said postgame. “Thats kind of all I look at right now. Just want to get points for the team. Need to figure something out”
Frustration… fed up… tired of losing… whatever it was, Konecny said the quiet part out loud.
His point of missing the playoffs was not just about another loss as the Flyers spiral downward. It was more of a comment to we have seen this story before.
Twice over the past four seasons we have seen this story unfold.
Flyers get off to a great start and hold a playoff spot thru mid-season. Then spiral out of control with long losing streaks and being unable to right themselves with the heat turned up.
While the Flyers did in fact commit to their rebuild, those missed opportunities weren’t seen as that big of a deal at the time. But, for the veterans who bought into the rebuild, they add up over time.
For Konecny, he is one of the players that has been through it all in Philadelphia. He and Travis Sanheim were the two pillars that bought into the rebuild.
The two put their faith in this organization to get back to their usual ways as a franchise. But, that faith still has not paid off and is starting to test their patience.
Konecny doesn’t voice his concerns very often. He is one of the players that chooses his words very carefully when speaking to the media.
Whether last night was just a slip or a boiling point, its showed that time may be slowly running out in this group getting the Flyers back to where they want to be.
