PHILADELPHIA – The letter “A” on Travis Konecny’s jersey stands for alternate captain of the Flyers right now but it might as well be a “C” for captain. Period.
Through this past stretch of a dozen games or so, Konecny has been both the statistical and emotional leader of the team.
No offense to official captain Sean Couturier but Konecny is the man right now.
There have been some tough losses but they haven’t slowed down Konecny one bit.
His team was down 3-1 at Columbus on Wednesday night but he put together a hat trick and the third goal tied the game with just minutes to play.
He had two points in a rough night in Boston on Thursday night, then came back on Saturday with another two-point effort, including a tying goal in the third period, in a 3-2 overtime defeat by Los Angeles.
Konecny reached the 50-point mark for the sixth time in his career and that’s good enough to put him in the top 10 in franchise history.
Coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged Konecny is playing some of his best hockey at the moment.
“He’s set, he’s trying to do the right things,” Tocchet said after watching Konecny hit a post in overtime. “He’s getting open. He’s sprinting. He’s getting those goals. That’s what I’m trying to get these guys to understand, get to those areas quick.
“You’ve got to get inside. He’s racing to get inside. It’s not a slow developing play.”
Tocchet mentioned that other players, such as Nikita Grebenkin and Denver Barkey, are trying to simulate what Konecny does.
“There are guys that are trying to get inside,” Tocchet confirmed.
Konecny is taking everything in stride. Like other veterans on the team, he’s grown tired of watching seasons end in mid-April without playoffs. There’s been a sense that streak could be coming to an end and Konecny wants to push the process.
A game like Saturday’s can provide some optimism.
“We were buzzing,” Konecny said of the second and third periods. “Making some good plays. A couple bounces that could have easily gone in. I’ve got to put it away there in overtime.”
>Zegras connecting with Brink
Trevor Zegras was back at center for a second straight game and appears to have found some rhythm with right wing Bobby Brink. Especially on the play which led to Zegras’ goal, his 20th, in the second period.
“I think we were moving our feet without the puck, which is great,” Zegras said. “Bob was awesome away from it. When guys are doing that stuff and getting turnovers, that’s where the skill comes out.”
Can the Flyers put this stretch of just two wins since Jan. 6 behind them?
“I think we have a great team,” he said. “Two amazing goalies. Seven or eight ‘D’ that can play when they’re called upon. Big forwards, great lines, great leaders. I think we just got to keep our foot down.”
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