(Kate Frese/SB Nation)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The new year brought about a big change for Travis Konecny. The second-year forward is emerging as one of the Flyers top weapons of late.
Through the first 36 games of the season, Konecny had to deal with constant rotation, playing on different lines, in different situations and the numbers just weren’t there. It seemed like every game, he’d get a quality chance or do something with the puck that should amount to points. But it wasn’t happening. After 36 games in his sophomore season, Konecny had four goals and six assists, just 10 points.
But since then, Konecny has received top-line minutes with Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier. And what a difference it has made.
In the Flyers last 12 games, Konecny has five goals and six assists, a total of 11 points.
But more than just the numbers is the confidence Konecny is display and his timely scoring. When Konecny was struggling to finish on opportunities or looked like confidence was waning, what was the best solution? How about pairing him with two players oozing with confidence.
Giroux has had a resurgence this season. After finishing with just 58 points last season, the Flyers captain is up to 56 points in 48 games.
Couturier’s production is on another level. The veteran center has paired his defensive specialties and taken his offensive game to new heights, already setting career-highs in goals with 26 and points with 49.
So for Konecny, playing with two players who are on a point-per-game pace naturally led to increased production.
That’s the part that shows up in the box score prominently. The part of Konecny’s game that isn’t as prominent, but equally as important, is the timely nature of his scoring of late.
Konecny’s first goal of the new year came on Jan. 4 against the Islanders. Konecny scored the team’s fifth goal of the game, just moments after the Islanders cut the lead to two. It went on the be the game-winning goal in the 6-4 win.
His next goal came on Jan. 13 against the Devils on a breakaway in the third period. With the Flyers clinging to a one-goal lead, Konecny got a breakaway and picked up his own rebound to score. That also ended up being the eventual game-winning goal.
Konecny’s next moment of note wasn’t a goal, but a clutch assist. After the Flyers erased a 2-0 deficit in the third against the Maple Leafs, Konecny was on the ice for the start of overtime with Couturier and Ivan Provorov. Just 18 seconds into the extra session, Konecny set up Couturier for the game-winning goal.
Two days later, the Flyers got off to a quick start in their game against the Devils. Konecny scored the opening goal less than two minutes into the game on the game’s first shot.
The next day, with the game in overtime again in Washington, Konecny got the game-winning tally 27 seconds in. On Tuesday night, he played hero again, scoring at 27 seconds of overtime.
It seems like in every big moment, Konecny’s been in the middle of it for the Flyers. That doesn’t come from being on a line with two players who help you produce. That’s a sign of confidence in your game and taking advantage of the opportunity.
The recent surge by Konecny is just another sign of a Flyers prospect bringing potential to the table. Konecny’s rookie season wasn’t great. He handled the transition well, but putting up points was a struggle for the 19-year-old rookie.
In 71 games, Konecny finished with 11 goals and 28 points, certainly a decent start to a career, but in missing time with an injury and serving as a healthy scratch for a couple of games, his confidence wasn’t where it needed to be.
It doesn’t seem like that is a question anymore. Konecny is on a roll and with his new linemates, is off to a tremendous start in 2018.
