Dave Hakstol is as straight-faced a coach as there is in the NHL.
Yet, he couldn’t help but let out a little smirk when asked about his team’s knack for winning one-goal games, with the Flyers fresh off a 2-1 overtime win over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
“I don’t know if we’ve set a record for the number of OT games we’ve been involved in, but we’ve been in a lot more one-goal games,” Hakstol said. “Obviously, it’s important to get points out of those games and win those games and not just be involved in them. I think our team is comfortable in close games, which at this time of the year is a benefit.”
With Wednesday’s victory, their record moved to 20-7-13 in games decided by one goal. Last season, the Flyers played one fewer one-goal game but managed only a 14-9-16 record. That’s a difference of nine points with six games still to play.
Likewise, the Flyers have played in a league-leading 26 overtime games with a .500 record in those affairs.
The way this team has responded in those situations has led to its identity. It has also given the players a taste of what the postseason will be like if they’re able to hold onto their two-point lead over Detroit for the final wild card spot.
“It’s how it is right now with these tight-knit games,” Shayne Gostisbehere said. “Every game matters, of course, to us. It’s good experience to gain for all of us, especially for the kids like me who haven’t been in those big games yet. It’s good to have that hopefully right into the playoffs.”
NHL
Since Jan. 1, the Flyers have really taken flight, going 25-11-6. Among those 42 games, 23 have been decided by one goal, with the team compiling an 11-6-6 mark is those contests. During the month of March, they’re 4-1-2 in those situations.
“We feel comfortable in tight games,” Sam Gagner said. “It’s going to pave the way for us going forward. Playoff hockey is a lot of one-goal games so we got to be ready for that.”
After each passing game, the Flyers continually say they felt a playoff atmosphere. Perhaps that has less to do with the rising impact of the games, and more with how hard-fought these contests that come down to the final horn have been.