Holiday Break Over, Flyers Look to Start Fresh on West Coast Trip

Having lost 19 of their last 23 games, John Tortorella’s Philadelphia Flyers are hoping the holiday break gives them a fresh start.

“It might be a little reset for us,” center Scott Laughton said after the Flyers returned to practice Tuesday in Voorhees. “We’re trying to build on the things we’ve been working on. I think we’ve put in a lot of work and a lot of video, and Torts demands a lot.”

“We’re almost at the halfway point, and it was nice to go home and be with friends and family,” said left winger Kevin Hayes, who returned to Boston during the break. “I’m sure we’ll try to use it as a (positive) and hopefully start this road trip off the right way and string some wins together.”

The Flyers (11-17-7), who meet the Sharks (11-18-6) on Thursday in San Jose, haven’t been playing as bad as their record suggests. They have been competitive in most games, but their 29th-ranked offense has let them down.

“Obviously the results haven’t been there, and the record isn’t what we wanted it to be or hoped it to be coming into the year,” Laughton said  “But I think our game is coming along pretty good. Defensively, we’re way better; obviously we’re having a tough time scoring, but I think the belief in the room is a lot different than it’s been the last couple years. And that goes a long way.”

Torts on Carter Hart and #Flyers goalies. pic.twitter.com/qpVtDuSJB0

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) December 27, 2022

Positively speaking

Taking The Flyers have points in half of their last 10 games (3-5-2). Hey, when you are going to miss the playoffs for a third straight season, you take all the positives — any positives — you can get.

In addition to San Jose, the Philadelphia Flyers will have stops in Los Angeles and Anaheim during the three-game trip.

“It’s all about us and focusing on our game,” said Travis Konecny, the sizzling right winger who leads the Flyers with 15 goals and 32 points.

Hayes is looking forward to the trip.

“It’s cold here, and we get to go out to the West Coast and it’s a cool area, and it’s a lot better when you win some games,” he said. “We have a couple days off there, so it’ll be nice to hang out as a team.”

And even nicer to bring home a couple victories.

Flyers’ lines

Here were the lines at Friday’s practice:

• Morgan Frost centering James van Riemsdyk, and Owen Tippett.
• Noah Cates centering Joel Farabee and Konecny.
• Laughton centering Hayes and Wade Allison.
• Patrick Brown centering Max Willman/Nick Deslauriers and Zack MacEwen.

Breakaways

Sam Ersson will start Thursday in San Jose. … Carter Hart practiced Wednesday, shortly after being put on the IR list. He is scheduled to play against L.A. and Anaheim during the trip. …. Konecny has 10 goals over his last 15 games. … Frost is on a 16-goal place. … Tortorella praised Ersson’s strong third period in Friday’s 6-5 loss in Carolina. “He gave us a chance,” he said. … The Flyers have struggled offensively for most of the season, but they have a combined 13 goals in their last three games. That’s their highest three-game stretch of the season.