The Flyers celebrate Mark Streit's first-period goal in a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames. (Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com)
The 10 days and four games have been about overcoming challenges for the Philadelphia Flyers. On paper, it certainly appears the Western Conference is the stronger conference.
But in those four games, the Flyers have been more than up to the task. Twice in a row on this current six-game road trip, they had to overcome third-period deficits and survive the skills competition that has plagued them so much.
On Tuesday night, in the final game of 2013, the Flyers took care of business by defeating another Canadien team on their West Coast trip, handling the Calgary Flames with a 4-1 win at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.
For the second straight night, a Flyers defenseman opened the scoring. Mark Streit fired a shot through a crowd that beat Flames goalie Reto Berra at 3:15 to give the Flyers the early lead.
That lead would hold for the next 30 minutes of play, as the Flames started to find their legs and the Flyers were on their heels.
Calgary finally managed the equalizer at 14:30 of the second, when Sean Monahan pounced on a loose puck in a two-on-one and scored.
The Flyers had a quick answer, as with just 1:29 remaining in the second, Brayden Schenn scored his ninth goal of the season, and second in as many nights, to put the Flyers back in front.
Shots and scoring chances were at a premium in the third and as the minutes continued to pass, a goal for the Flyers would prove to be huge in the final 10 minutes. They got that goal with 9:46 to play, as Scott Hartnell deflected a shot by Luke Schenn past Berra to give the Flyers a two-goal lead.
The Flames didn't have much of an answer, taking just six shots in the third. Ray Emery, who had struggled in his last few starts, bounced back with a strong game, stopping 23 of 24 shots.
Braydon Coburn would ice the game with 1:56 remaining in the third on an empty-net goal.
The Flyers are off for New Year's Day but return to action on Thursday night in Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche.
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
