Going End to End today are NBC Sports Philadelphia's Katie Emmer and Jordan Hall.
The topic: What should Flyers fans be thankful for on Thanksgiving?
Emmer
Sean Couturier. He’s been a reliable player that makes good plays with and without the puck and he’s someone the Flyers are thankful for, especially in the month of November.
An upper-body injury limited Couturier in the faceoff dot early in the month, but he still produced in other ways. Coots’ 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in November lead the team.
Not only is his production something, but also his ability to complement his linemates. Take Jakub Voracek for example, who was placed on a line with Couturier simply to increase his production:
We're trying to get [Jakub Voracek] going, and everybody that's played with [Sean Couturier] has found a pretty good level of success. That might jump start [Voracek] a little bit. We obviously need him playing well.
NHL
- Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault on Nov. 21, via NHL.com
And since that move, Voracek has three points in four games, including the GWG over the Canucks on Monday, which helped him get “the swagger back.”
Couturier and his 200-foot abilities are something to be thankful for.
Hall
Carter Hart and Brian Elliott.
Yes, Elliott, as well. Don’t forget him.
Goaltending has not made headlines so far and that is only a positive in Philadelphia.
Here are the numbers during the Flyers’ 8-2-4 November:
Hart — 5-2-2, 2.05 goals-against average, .921 save percentage.
Elliott — 3-0-2, 2.28 goals-against average, .926 save percentage.
At Thanksgiving last year, the Flyers had already played four goalies en route to playing an NHL-record eight by season’s end.
Hart has been strong and the 34-year-old Elliott held down the fort when the 21-year-old went through a rough patch in October.
The Flyers have some stability in net and fans will surely be thankful for that.
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