Jake Voracek extended his points streak to seven games on a great feed from Claude Giroux. Chris VandeVelde was quickly taken off the top line to get Wayne Simmonds better chances.
Those were two storylines that will carry into the next game. But the one that would normally be overlooked is the scoring depth the Flyers received in Thursday night's win over the Florida Panthers. The first two goals were the product of the third line. The third goal of the night, the Flyers first of the second period, was another fourth-line goal.
Sean Couturier, Michael Del Zotto and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored in the win and showed the Flyers shouldn't be looked at as a one-line team.
"They played great, especially Coots' line," Voracek said. "Every line has to step up in certain moments and we had a good game the other night and they had a great game tonight. In the end, that’s all that counts."
"Everyone has to step up their game," Couturier said. "It's an opportunity for others to show what they can do and take advantage of it."
Couturier's line was responsible for both first-period goals for the Flyers. Couturier and Brayden Schenn each had a role on both goals.
"I didn't find that Reader and Coots were shooting enough pucks and getting it to the net," head coach Craig Berube said. "Hopefully Schenn can force that, get it to the net himself like he should and force some guys to shoot the puck more."
In the last two games, two defensemen have tallied for the first time this season. Luke Schenn scored his first on Tuesday. Del Zotto scored his first as a Flyer on Thursday.
Ron Hextall's quick thinking in signing Del Zotto may be the Flyers most important and valuable deal of the offseason. Del Zotto has six assists for a total of seven points in 13 games.
"I've said from day one, there's a lot of people out there who were doubting my ability to play the game," Del Zotto said. "Every single day I have a chip on my shoulder, trying to prove them wrong."
"He plays a fast game, and in defending, he gets on people quick with his stick and his body," Berube said. "He moves the puck well."
The Flyers also got a goal from the fourth line for the second straight game. Bellemare has scored both goals for the line, but as a whole, the line delivered with energy throughout the game.
"I like the way they're skating right now," Berube said. "Zac's doing a real good job of getting on top of people, taking the body and making plays with the puck."
The Flyers have been looking for complete team efforts throughout the start, and in their last two games, they have received it. For a team battling injuries on all fronts, most recently a long-term injury to Michael Raffl, it's about the next guy stepping up.
"We need something out of everybody, every game. That's it," Berube said. "You can't depend on one line or two sets of defense or just on your goalie. We need everybody that's dressed in the lineup to play to their potential."
And when it's mattered most, the Flyers have lived up to their potential.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
