Brayden Schenn has two games left in this lost Flyers season to match his career-high goal total of last season -- 20.
The 23-year-old needs two goals to hit the mark following Tuesday’s 5-4 game-winner with 2.1 seconds left against the Isles (see game recap).
Schenn now has four goals in four games.
“You’re not thinking that one is going in from the position I was in on the ice,” said Schenn, who was less than 10 feet inside the blue line, angled toward the left boards when he shot it through defenseman Travis Hamonic’s legs.
Whether goalie Jaroslav Halak relaxed is debatable.
“You never know,” Schenn said. “That’s what happens when you put pucks on net. Sometimes you get a lucky one.”
He hasn’t had much luck until these final two weeks.
During a season in which very little makes sense statistically, Schenn is one of a couple young players who remain an enigma: Is there another level to his game or is this as good as it gets?
“It’s just consistency,” offered coach Craig Berube. “Night in, night out. Being a power forward and how you have to play as a power forward. Getting to hard areas, physical play, those type of things. He is improving and getting better.”
A couple of weeks ago, it seemed clear Schenn had taken steps backwards offensively, and now suddenly, he hit a goal surge at the end and could match last year’s output.
Which would make the case for general manager Ron Hextall saying he is what he is and that next level isn’t there.
In his defense, he’s been bounced between center and left wing during his entire four years in Philadelphia and just recently was slotted at right wing where he produced three goals in two games, causing him to remark that this position might well best suit him as a Flyer.
At the same time, there’s no logical reason for his goal droughts this season – seven games (twice), 11 games and even 17 during the winter.
Keep in mind, he has been on the Flyers’ highly-successful, first-unit power play all season, too. He has seven power-play goals and 19 power-play points -- fifth highest on the club.
At least he will finish the season with more a bang than a whimper.
Question is, where was this flurry earlier when the Flyers could have sorely used it before being eliminated from playoff contention?
“I don’t know,” Schenn said. “Just trying to finish the season strong like any other guy in this locker room.
“Maybe a change up playing with Coots (Sean Couturier) and Reader (Matt Read), who I played with at the beginning of the year. We seem to have a little success together and hope to keep it going through this week.”
He’s replaced Wayne Simmonds (fracture/left leg) at right wing on Couturier’s line with Read and has three goals in four games since doing it, a reason why he earned the NHL’s No. 2 Star of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday.
“It’s the first time I have ever played right wing and I actually like it better,” Schenn said. “It’s different. In your own end, you are always facing our goaltender rather than playing the left side.
“Just off the rush, you are able to make more plays and see more of the ice. I’m able to get off the boards a little more. It’s a change but whatever position Chief (Craig Berube) puts me in, I will be comfortable at. I’m going to do the best job I can.”
Schenn is a lefty, which means his stick blade points inward toward the net, a help at right wing. Of course, if he has to dig a puck off the boards, he’s on his backhand.
“It opens up the ice for him a little bit,” Berube said of the position switch. “He has a good shot. He can pull it off that side and shoot it. His stick is on the inside, a better angle shooting.
“The biggest adjustment is in your own end off the walls. We talked a little about it today. That’s an adjustment for him, being in his own end, pulling pucks off the wall and making plays.”
Schenn has played with eight different lines this season, but this is the first time he’s on right wing. The Flyers still haven't figured out whether he’s better at center or wing, and every time a center goes down to injury he seems to switch positions.
He now seems to favor moving to right wing.
“It’s all up to them where they put me, center or left wing, right wing,” Schenn said. “I think just try to play wherever and whoever with and make the most of it. If it comes up, that is their decision. Just go out there and do my job.”
If Simmonds weren’t injured, there’s no way Schenn is on the right side.
“When Wayne went down it opened an opportunity for him over there,” Berube said. “… This was an opportunity to get him over there and see how he looks. He’s been producing.
“I don’t think his game has changed that much to be honest with you, I think that I said before that Brayden gets opportunities every game to score and they're going in now for him. He’s been on that power play, in that slot area and I can’t tell you how many good shots he’s gotten off and opportunities. They haven’t gone in.”
Final start
Ray Emery will get one final start this season, perhaps Saturday afternoon against his former Ottawa Senator teammates.
Berube confirmed on Tuesday that Emery will play in one of the final two regular-season games.
It’s very likely this will be Emery’s final appearance as a Flyer. Although he was bargain backup, the club seems to be leaning toward other options for next season either via free agency or having a longer look at Rob Zepp, who appeared in 10 games this season.
Emery has played just once this month, a 3-2 shootout loss in Carolina last week. He has appeared in 30 games with a 10-10-7 record, 3.10 goals against average and .893 save percentage.
Hatch is back
Well, not exactly. Ex-Flyer personnel assistant Derian Hatcher, who is part owner of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, more or less appointed himself as head coach next season, replacing Trevor Letowski.
Hatcher worked with younger Flyer defensemen in the minors here until last summer’s organizational shakeup under Hextall.