Even with the elation of a huge overtime game-winner and the frenzied energy pulsating throughout the Wells Fargo Center, Flyers captain Claude Giroux just didn’t have it in him.
“I was too tired to celebrate," he said. "So I just put my arms in the air.”
After a road trip that saw the Flyers travel across the country to play four tough games in six nights in two different time zones and then a hard-fought, 3-2 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night (see game story), can you blame him?
Yes, the Flyers were able to earn two clutch points Monday to stay ahead of the Detroit Red Wings for the time being in the Eastern Confernce playoff chase.
But they admitted after Monday’s game they had to fight through the physical fatigue of their recent tight schedule to pull out the victory.
“Tonight, physically, we were a little tired,” Giroux said. “But coach talked to us and made sure mentally that we took care of the puck and played the right way. Maybe physically we weren't there but mentally I think we took care of pucks.”
Monday night’s win was the Flyers’ sixth game in the last 10 days, and that includes a back-to-back set that started last Monday in Brooklyn against the Islanders and concluded the next night in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
The Flyers haven’t had more than one day off in between games since March 17-18. That’s left little time for full practices and only enough for optional practices and skates many players choose to forgo to rest, like many did Monday morning.
Seeing how they were feeling after Monday’s win, it’s easy to understand why many take the option to pass on those practices and skates.
With the way his team has been playing over this recent 10-3-2 run toward the playoffs, head coach Dave Hakstol trusts his players to do what’s best for their bodies.
His faith was rewarded Monday, as they pushed through the fatigue for a big victory.
“You have to do the little things,” Hakstol said. “Little things lead to big things on a night like tonight and it starts with effort. Staying out of the box, some timely plays, and overall great effort.
“The energy you could see the guys starting to get zapped a little bit as the second period wore on, but guys stayed with it.”
The Flyers controlled the play and tempo in the first period, including holding Winnipeg without a shot on goal for the first 9:40 of the game, and scored two quick ones in the second to open up a lead.
But from there, the Jets found their stride and took it to the Flyers with 11 shots on goal in the period, including Mark Scheifele’s breakaway tally.
“I think we actually kind of did the reverse of what we were feeling,” said Wayne Simmonds, who notched his 26th goal of the season in the win. “We came out really strong. We talked about that this morning. So we came out really strong with some good play and then I think we kind of slowly fizzled off.
“But we stuck with our structure and our systems and I think that carried us this game.”
The fatigue doesn’t just get to the forwards and defensemen, it gets to goalies, too.
Look at Steve Mason, who started his sixth straight game Monday in the wake of Michal Neuvirth’s injury and 11th of the last 12 games overall.
“This was a difficult game to play coming back from a tough road trip and time change and not skating [Sunday],” said Mason, who made 26 saves in the win. “Just have to mentally prepare for a big game like (Monday) and overall I think the guys a pretty good job of getting their legs and coming out and getting a big two points.”
The slate does not get any easier form here.
There are 13 days left in the NHL regular season and the Flyers have seven games — starting with Wednesday’s visit from the league-leading Washington Capitals — in those 13 days. That includes three more sets of back-to-backs.
Good thing for the Flyers they're used it by now.
Going downtown
Simmonds is known as a power forward who buries pucks from in tight around the net.
But on Monday, he stepped out of his usual office and scored from long range — near the blue line after corralling a loose puck.
The puck went in off of Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, but a goal is a goal. Simmonds and the Flyers will take them anyway they can get them.
“Yeah, that’s the furthest goal I’ll ever get,” Simmonds said. “Gaggy (Sam Gagner) made a great change, G (Giroux) and Schenner (Brayden Schenn) worked the play down low. I think Schenn almost actually scored. I jumped on the ice and Schenner made a great pass right through the middle of the ice, and I luckily walked on right into it."