591 — The number of games the Flyers have played, including playoff games, since the last time they tallied five or more consecutive wins in regulation. That goes back to the Orange and Black’s 2-1 win over the New York Islanders on November 6th, 2010, which at the time was their sixth straight regulation win.
Since that time, the Flyers have had five winning streaks that lasted five games or more, but each streak featured at least one win that needed overtime to secure the victory:
- 5 straight from 12/9/10 – 12/18/10, 1 OT win
- 7 straight from 12/2/11 – 12/15/11, 2 OT wins
- 5 straight from 3/1/12 – 3/10/12, 1 SO win
- 5 straight from 3/15/14 – 3/22/14, 1 OT win
- 10 straight from 11/27/16 – 12/14/16, 3 OT wins and 1 SO win/
It’s important to remember that hockey is probably the dumbest sport (if not the dumbest thing) on the face of the Earth. The 2011-12 roster that featured a Jaromir Jagr-Claude Giroux-Scott Hartnell top line, a 2013-14 team led by their Hart-nominated captain, or the 2015-16 team that needed to go 15-5-3 down the stretch to reach the postseason couldn’t rattle off five straight wins without the assistance of extra time. However, this team, the one that had serious secondary scoring troubles and a horrendous penalty kill just two weeks ago, has managed to pull off this feat.
After receiving precisely zero bounces during their 10-game losing streak, it was inevitable that the Flyers would have some things go there way once they started winning again. That has been illustrated during this win streak, as they were outshot 45-21 against the Calgary Flames and 37-26 against the Vancouver Canucks within the first three wins, which featured poor 5-on-5 play and heavy reliance on Brian Elliott in each contest.
Then, the Flyers dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs and overcame a third-period deficit they didn’t deserve before pulling off the team’s goal of the season; they then received another bounce last night when they played the Buffalo Sabres.
With four lines that seem to be clicking, Elliott still playing well, and luck temporarily on their side, can the Flyers make it six straight regulation wins tomorrow against the Dallas Stars?
