The Flyers went from having the third seed in the Metropolitan Division earlier this week to now being on the outside looking in. No longer in the third spot. No longer in a Wild Card spot. A point behind Toronto (who have played two more games) and two points behind Boston (who have played three more games). And they are tied with Buffalo (who have played the same number of games), a team they face tonight in what is beginning to look more and more like very crucial games down this pre-Olympic stretch.
At 22-14-8 heading into Wednesday’s game, the Flyers need to keep doing what they’ve been doing to be successful. But they also need to start getting some help from a few forwards (and a defenseman) who haven’t been pulling their weight when it comes to scoring or contributing.
Here then in no order are three Flyers the team really needs to get something out of the last 38 games of the season. It’s not impossible for Philadelphia to squeak in if one or two of these players continue to be in elongated slumps. But it will be extremely difficult to see them hanging in down the stretch without this trio occasionally pitching in.
Sean Couturier
He hasn’t been the target of criticism like some other players have encountered this season. But at some point, Couturier has to start delivering a bit more than he currently is. With just five goals, he’s currently on pace for his lowest output since 2021-22, an injury-plagued season where he just played 29 games and registered six goals. And in a partial season with Philadelphia and Adirondack back in 2012-13, he had four goals in 46 games with the Flyers. Outside of those two years, his lowest output has been 11 goals. Given how lethargic his goal-scoring pace has been, he might be life and death to get to double digits this season even if he remains healthy.
Going into his 44th game tonight, Couturier has scored in four games. His last goal was Dec. 7 against Colorado in a 3-2 loss. Since then, nothing, a stretch of 17 games. He’s had three multi-point games since then, the latest being a pair of assists against Edmonton in a 5-2 win. But for a player who prides himself on a playing a solid two-way game, it’s time that one of the two ways starts emerging. In Flyer wins, Couturier has 21 of his 24 points, and is a +16 in those games. In losses, he’s had just one goal and two assists and is a -19.
Nobody should expect Couturier to pop off and score 15 to 20 goals the rest of the way. It would be incredible if he did. However, he needs to start putting the puck in the net. Maybe with Denver Barkey on his wing, Couturier might be able to start cashing in from time to time. It would certainly lift the Flyers’ fortunes. And it sure as heck would help lighten the load that Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny have been carrying most of the season.
Emil Andrae
Is it fair to pick on Emil Andrae? After all, he’s been a bright spot on the blueline this year, moving from being out of the loop to earning solid second-pairing minutes alongside Jamie Drysdale. Hopefully Drysdale returns much sooner than later, and Andrae can return to his comfort zone. But as it stands now, Andrae ideally picks up the points a little more. And especially on the power play if that’s possible. Right now Andrae has a lone goal which came in a 4-2 win over the Panthers back on Nov. 26. That’s a span of 21 games. Granted, he’s doing a great job keeping his name in the lineup and overshadowing the likes of Rasmus Ristolainen and Noah Juulsen in the depth chart. He just needs to pot a few more.
With one goal on just 26 shots, Andrae has a 3.8 shooting percentage. Not great, even for a guy who doesn’t take many shots. Ideally, the smaller defenseman can make a few more rushes up ice (or join them as the late man) and get some quality opportunities. And some goals. Again, nobody would realistically believe Andrae can end up with 10 goals this season. However, if he ended the season with five or six goals, that would be a huge bonus. It’s not like he’s been missing in action with his play. A few more goals from the back end, and especially Andrae, would go a long way.
Matvei Michkov
He came to camp not in great shape. Not in peak condition. And he seems to have been playing catchup ever since. Michkov has one goal since Nov. 29 when he scored a pair against the Devils. That lone goal was an empty-netter. At the time many thought it would be a huge monkey off the Russian’s back. But it appears that another monkey or some such simian is right there over his shoulder again. And similar to Couturier’s numbers in splits, Michkov has delivered in wins, not so much in losses. He has 17 points in games where Philadelphia was victorious and was a +12. In the losses, he has six points and is a -18.
Michkov would be the first to tell you he hasn’t been pleased with his game thus far. Particularly after how pissed off he was in last season’s exit interviews with Flyers general manager Danny Briere. And he would be the first to tell you he needs to find his way out of the weeds. While some might place the blame squarely on someone other than Michkov, he hasn’t delivered as much as many anticipated. If the Flyers are to stay in the running, and not fall off a cliff like they have in previous seasons, Michkov is going to have to come through at some point. Perhaps seeing Bobby Brink return could be the boost Michkov needs to get out of this dry spell. Brink and Michkov have been an unlikely pair of wingers, yet together Michkov seems to have found a certain amount of chemistry with the fellow, smaller forward.
A few multi-point games prior to the Olympic break would be an excellent time for him to get hot. Taking that confidence into the break would do him and the team a world of good.
