Flyers-Sharks 10 observations: Salvaging the homestand

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Boy, the Flyers needed that.

Wayne Simmonds scored a breakaway goal in overtime to give the Flyers a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center (see Instant Replay).

With the victory, they avoided what would have been a one-win five-game homestand. The last time that happened on a homestand of five or more games was Jan. 9-22, 1996, when they recorded a victory, loss and three ties.

Let's get into 10 observations from the game.

1. Great win for the Flyers to somewhat salvage this stretch at home. They scored just six goals over the five consecutive games at the Wells Fargo Center. But they were desperate for a victory before their three-game Western Canada road trip.

2. Simmonds’ goal was a beauty. The fist pump followed. It was a good day for Flyers fans.

3. Ivan Provorov sniped his fifth goal of the season to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead 6:22 into the third period. It also gave the Flyers their first 5-on-5 marker since Feb. 2. It was a drought of 245 minutes, 25 seconds. Not good for a pivotal five-game homestand.

4. It was clearly evident how much the Flyers valued the final game of this already-unsuccessful homestand. In many areas, the Flyers outplayed the Sharks. But, of course, outplaying the opposition doesn’t always win you hockey games. On Saturday, it did. Sure, San Jose didn’t have its third-leading scorer Logan Couture (late scratch for undisclosed injury), but the Flyers came at the defending Western Conference champs — something on which they should build.

5. Great coach’s challenge by Dave Hakstol in the opening period. Nearly four minutes into the game, Sharks winger Kevin Labanc tried to spin and shoot but whiffed. As a result, his stick came around and clipped Michal Neuvirth, who couldn’t recover to stop Patrick Marleau’s follow attempt. Hakstol challenged for goalie interference and was victorious. He obviously has a pretty good vantage point, but to see it and pull the trigger is vital. Who knows how the Flyers respond to a 1-0 deficit?

6. What a fun, highlight-reel sequence about midway through the first period. Simmonds put a filthy move on four-time All-Star Brent Burns to squeeze through the defense for a shot on goal. But San Jose backup goalie Aaron Dell one-upped him with a magnificent glove save. The play, which you can watch here, elicited a respectful applause from the Wells Fargo Center crowd.

7. The Sharks are awfully tough to beat after they lose big. They were 6-0-0 when coming off a loss in which the margin of deficit is three goals or greater. San Jose entered Saturday on a three-game losing skid and fresh off a 6-3 clunker to the Bruins. So this Flyers win was a good one.

8. Whether you agree with the penalty or not, it was not a smart play by Simmonds when he cross-checked Sharks center Tomas Hertl, who was hardly bothering Neuvirth as the goalie was already in possession of the puck. Nonetheless, the Flyers answered with an excellent penalty kill in the second period. San Jose kept the puck in and tired the PK out, but the Flyers answered with effort, especially Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. He blocked a hard shot and was active out front. Bellemare knows his role and works hard at it.

9. Neuvirth was good again. He made 23 saves and has not allowed more than two goals in a game since Jan. 21.

10. Things will get only tougher for the Flyers. Fifteen of team’s final 26 games come on the road and all seven of the clubs trailing the Flyers in the wild-card race have games in hand on them. Buckle up.

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