“I’m not sure what’s gonna happen with our line up, we got some nicks, sickness,” said Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella during the pre-game press conference against the Devils. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the hockey coach said the situation was so bad he had to cancel the morning practice session. Such news would be the last thing fans hope to hear hours ahead of a match.

Yet, despite the worrying news, the Flyers ended the night with a smooth landing against the New Jersey Devils. The Flyers snapped their two-match losing streak and earned their fourth straight home win. Yet Coach Tortorella had painted a grim picture during the press conference. “Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella says he canceled the team’s morning skate,” wrote X user Evil Gritty.

Gritty quoted the Philadelphia Flyers coach. “Half the guys didn’t show up and the ones who did were throwing up before they got to the locker room,” said coach Tortorella. The match started on even footing, with the Devils pressing the action, but all it took was the Flyers’ first and only power play of the first period for them to establish a 1-0 lead. That lead grew to 2-0 by the end of the first.

While the Devils answered back with two of their own in each of the following periods, it wasn’t enough. Although John Tortorella didn’t disclose which players threw up ahead of the game, Bobby Brink, Joel Farabee, and Garnet Hathaway became the architects behind the Flyers’ 4-2 win. However, equally impressive was goaltender Samuel Ersson’s contribution to the win.

Ersson stopped 31 shots on target throughout the match to help keep the Flyers in the lead. The goaltender played a crucial role in fending off the second-period surge from the Devils, who threw the whole kitchen skin at the Flyers to make up the goal deficit. However, Tortorella ultimately managed to secure the win, putting themselves in an opportune position.

What’s next for the Philadelphia Flyers?

The Flyers have found themselves in a promising spot among the wildcard contenders. Winning against the Devils has now put them just one point behind New Jersey, who is currently 5th in the wildcard standings with 53 points. However, the impressive win has also put the team on par with the New York Rangers, who failed to extend their lead after a loss against the Colorado Avalanche.

So if the Philadelphia Flyers continue their winning ways, alongside the strong goaltending from Ersson to string together a few wins, they may emerge as a serious contender to make the playoffs. However, the Flyers offense also needs to step up the consistency to how they were playing earlier in the season when they amassed a 5-game streak.

However, whether that will happen remains to be seen, as they’ll once again face the Devils the next time they step onto the ice. The upcoming match will be a far bigger challenge for the Flyers, as they are the ones traveling to Prudential Center in New Jersey. While the Flyers have maintained strong form at home, the same is not true for away games. So despite the win, the odds don’t seem to be in Philadelphia’s favor unless they can replicate this success.