VOORHEES, N.J. – This time the comeback numbers might mean something.
A year ago, the Flyers tied Montreal and Calgary for the most wins in the NHL when trailing after two periods with 10.
In the case of Philadelphia, that might have had something to do with the fact they were behind 38 – yes, 38 – times after 40 minutes of play.
You could probably apply the expression “even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile” to that particular case.
But maybe not this season.
The Flyers (4-3-1) have already turned the trick twice in their first eight games. They’re on a pace to do it 20 times and the guess here is they probably won’t be behind going into the third period another 38 times either.
What this might show is how resilient this group is, how its never-say-die attitude can come in handy in trying to end a franchise five-year drought out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Plus, the Flyers are keeping every game close. So being down one goal with 20 minutes to play isn’t as daunting a task as two, three or four scores.
“Never felt like we were out of it in the two games where we did come back (Minnesota and the New York Islanders),” Noah Cates said after Monday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center. “We could have easily had the lead. As long as we’re getting our chances and playing the right way, not giving up too much.”
Cates said the goaltending of Dan Vladar and Sam Ersson has played a role as well. When soft goals are not allowed, it gives a team more confidence, more ambition. There’s a sense of “we can win this one.”
Coach Rick Tocchet buys that premise.
“It seems like they make big saves to keep us in games,” Tocchet said. “That’s number one. I feel like the guys are sticking to the game a little bit more. Sometimes when you get behind, you start running around, gambling. But a game where you’re down 2-0 (to the Islanders), there’s still 30 minutes left in the game.
“We don’t have to push our chips in. I think we’re staying in the game. Then something good happens. Even if we’re down 3-2 (vs. New York) we’re still in the game. It’s with the goaltender and ‘I’m not letting the next goal in. I’m going to give these guys a chance.’+”
>Injury updates
There’s some pretty encouraging health news concerning one Flyer regular and one highly regarded prospect.
General manager Daniel Briere said defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who underwent pectoral muscle surgery earlier in the year, could be cleared to begin skating again. There’s no timetable on a possible return to action but the big Finn should be back in about six weeks.
Meanwhile defenseman Oliver Bonk, who has been sidelined by an upper-body injury during his stay with the OHL London Knights, still has recovery time left.
“In Risto’s case, everything is coming along nicely,” Briere said. “Pretty soon he should be practicing with the team, I don’t know how far that is.
“As far as Oliver, we didn’t know how serious it was at first. We kept him out of rookie camp, main camp thinking it would get better. It’s just been a slow process. It’s going well, we just hope there are no setbacks.”
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