In the week before the All-Star break, the Philadelphia Flyers faced only the Winnipeg Jets. They picked up a solid 3-1 victory in what was their second game after snapping their franchise record-breaking losing streak. As satisfying as that win was, one game does not make a streak. Consequently, we’ll also consider a couple of last week’s games – a loss to the New York Islanders and a win against the Los Angeles Kings – in this edition of Flyers Hot and Cold Streaks. Through these three games, some players facilitated the team’s success. However, others did not perform quite so impressively. Each week, we’ll take a look at Philadelphia Flyers players who are on a hot or cold streak. This week, we’ll examine Scott Laughton and Martin Jones.
Be sure to check out the last Flyers Hot and Cold Streaks as well.
Hot and Cold Streaks, Including Scott Laughton
Hot Streak: Scott Laughton
With both Kevin Hayes and Sean Couturier out, Scott Laughton got the ‘A’. And since the Islanders game, his performance has certainly been worthy of the honour. Laughton has two assists and a goal, scoring a point in each of the three contests.
Let’s break down the assists first. In the third period against the Islanders, Laughton received the puck in the Flyers’ zone and moved it all the way down the ice, where he took a quick shot that bounced off Ilya Sorokin. Gerald Mayhew swatted down the rebound and took his own chance, finding the back of the net. Then, tied at a goal apiece against the Jets, Laughton navigated the neutral zone once again and passed to James van Riemsdyk for a tap-in goal. In both games, the most crucial tallies were all orchestrated by Laughton’s hand.
In a similarly-clutch manner, Laughton’s goal against the Kings was not only an overtime winner but also the goal that finally broke the Flyers’ 13-game losing streak. Cam Atkinson’s shot produced a rebound that Laughton, stationed at the front of the net, quickly launched past Jonathan Quick. Whether setting up teammates or taking his own chances, Laughton’s work through this week and last was crucial to getting the Flyers back on track.
Honourable Mention: Gerald Mayhew
Officially, Gerald Mayhew is a bottom-six player and recent callup. Seeing the way he played last week, though, no one would have guessed it. At 5’9″, he’s a bit undersized, but his speed and aggression allow him to start dangerous rushes, even in his current position on the third line. Mayhew has five hits and two blocks through the last three games, along with two goals. For the first, he weaved around two Islanders and shot over the stick of another to tie up the score. The second came from a sharp angle off a cross-ice feed from Rasmus Ristolainen. Ever since he joined the Flyers, Mayhew’s infectious energy has given the team a much-needed jump. Hopefully, his tenacity will continue to pay off.
Cold Streak: Martin Jones
Martin Jones has been having a rough stretch lately. His last start was during the Islanders game, where he allowed four goals on 33 shots for a .879 save percentage. Just days prior, against the Buffalo Sabres, he had given up four goals on eight shots before getting pulled. Of course, save percentage is hardly an absolute indicator that a netminder played badly. But by the eye test, about half of the goals Jones allowed through those contests were shots he probably should have saved.
Overall, his lateral movement seemed a bit slower than usual, and – particularly against Buffalo – a couple tries that he might have been able to stop had he been better positioned found the back of the net. Perhaps with a winning streak going and a slightly more confident team around him, Jones will get more support in his next start. But the Flyers will need him to get back on his feet quickly to have a good chance at winning when Carter Hart isn’t in net.
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