Flyers’ Travis Konecny Tries to Snap Slump vs. Nashville

Travis Konecny was extremely active in the offensive zone during Thursday’s 2-1 shootout win over Edmonton.

That’s the good news.

The bad news: The Philadelphia Flyers’ right winger couldn’t find the back of the net. He has now gone 11 straight games without a goal. Before that, he had 12 goals in his previous 10 games.

“He’s getting chances,” coach John Tortorella said on Thursday, adding he used Konecny first in Thursday’s shootout in an attempt to get him going. Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner, however, stopped him.

Konecny had eight shot attempts in the upset victory over the usually high-scoring Oilers.

Tortorella downplayed Konecny’s slump. “But (I’m) certainly hoping something good happens for him to get going. I think he’s very close,” he said. “The biggest thing with TK for me is him getting in his own head. He’s such a competitor and a guy who wants to help a team so badly and knows we need him scoring. Just continue doing some of the other things you need to do in the game until something happens for you.”

Konecny, 25, is staying upbeat, saying eventually things “are going to come.”

“You know, I was getting all the bounces,” said Konecny, referring to his 24 goals in his first 36 games, “and eventually it’s going to stop. It’s about getting our team back on track, and getting myself back to playing the right way and just don’t worry about that stuff.”

He gets his next chance in Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. matinee against Nashville (24-19-6), a team battling for a Western Conference wildcard spot.

Torts on Carter Hart: "He's been our best player this year." #Flyers

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) February 10, 2023

‘Did I spook our team?’

As he prepared for Thursday’s game, Tortorella said he talked more to his team about high-powered Edmonton than he usually does about an opponent.

“The thing I was most worried about, ‘Did we spook our team? Did we put our team back on our heels with our preparation’ ” Tortorella said on Friday.

The answer: No. The Flyers played a smart, patient, and disciplined game. They checked hard but didn’t commit any penalties, and they held superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in check.

He said the Flyers have “put themselves in a situation where they’re still playing meaningful games in mid-February, and now you have to take what’s coming and see if you can handle it and continue to play those meaningful game. That’s going to be our biggest focus.”

Breakaways

The Flyers placed Kieffer Bellows on waivers. Is Olle Lycksell being promoted? … Goalie Felix Sandstrom (remember him?) figures to get a start in one of the back-to-back weekend games. The Flyers host Seattle on Sunday at 1 p.m. … Carter Hart has started the last five games. … The Philadelphia Flyers (22-22-9) are 11-5-2 over their last 18 games. They are tied for second in wins in the NHL during that span. … The Preds have won five of their last seven games. … All-Star left winger Kevin Hayes has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) over his last 16 games. … Travis Sanheim’s next assist will be the 100th of his career. … Scott Laughton is just two points shy of equaling his career high, 32 points. … After the four-game homestand ends Sunday, the Flyers will go on the road for four matchups, facing Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.

Frost Bite: Flyers’ Center Plays with an Edge in Win Against Oilers