PHILADELPHIA, PA – Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella is eager to see how his team will handle a playoff race. As the Flyers secured a 3-2 win over the Kraken at the Wells Fargo Center, Tortorella’s club have won three straight coming out of the bye week and All-Star break. The Flyers now hold a playoff position in third place of the Metropolitan Division with 29 games to go.
Tortorella expressed confidence in his players’ ability to respond after a 4-1 win Thursday over the Jets. “We’ve put ourselves in a good spot here and I think guys have realized that, the way we need to play to continue this,” said forward Scott Laughton.
The Flyers’ recent success has pushed them to within four wins of surpassing last season’s total and placed them in a favorable position as the playoff race begins to heat up. “It’s going to be a sprint to the finish line, it happens quick throughout the end of the year. It’s an exciting time to be in Philly here and be a part of this,” Laughton added.
Saturday night’s game saw the Flyers delivering a strong offense as nine different players recorded a point. With goals scored at even strength, on the power play and on the penalty kill, the Flyers demonstrated a well-rounded effort. Sean Couturier delivered the game-winner, Ryan Poehling scored the league-leading 12th shorthanded goal of the season, and Scott Laughton netted the game-opening marker on the man advantage.
Despite the win, Tortorella emphasized the need for consistency, particularly after the team’s uneven performance in their previous win over the Jets. He stated that there are no free passes for players like Couturier, emphasizing the necessity for peak performance in every game.
The Flyers will look to continue their winning streak as they host the Coyotes in their final game of the homestand on Monday. The team is confident in their ability to maintain their momentum and secure victories as the playoff race intensifies.