The Flyers are hot right now, on a seven-game winning streak. All of their top forwards have been really good. Wayne Simmonds leads them in goals (15). Claude Giroux, with 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) and Jakub Voracek, also with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) have done what's been expected of them. Voracek is coming back from a tough season (he had 55 points in 2015-16, one season after having a career-high 81).
For me, Simmonds has become a star in this League, and a dependable one. As one Western Conference coach told me, "Wayne Simmonds is a dream player because every day, he is going to do everything you want him to do to be successful and you don't have to coax it out of him," which says a lot.
The key with Giroux and Voracek is they are playing more of a 200-foot game, but also the defense for the Flyers, with Brandon Manning, Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere, are getting passes in the offensive zone. There's pretty much a defenseman on every pair who can make a play, which goes a long way.
Also, center Brayden Schenn is a really good piece for them. He's skilled, plays with an edge and it was good that general manager Ron Hextall and Schenn's agent were able to agree to a contract before the season.
Last season, all of their players believed they could make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and to their credit, they did. Right now in this stretch, there's a lot of that vibe on this team.
Goalie Steve Mason has won a career-high six straight starts and his numbers are starting to round into form. There's no reason he shouldn't be a top 15 goalie every year. He has stepped up with the injury to Michal Neuvirth. There aren't a lot of nights in the NHL where if each of those guys are healthy, they should be out-goaltended.