[BeanSobie]

Coming home from Detroit the Flyers were glad to have a few nights in their own beds before getting back at it with a tough three game stand against the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers. Looking particularly well rested for the Flyers was the one they call "Stone Cold" Steve Mason. Mason stood tall as he faced all 27 shots against Vancouver and was lights out against the Rangers when he made an incredible 40 saves, posting his first two shutouts on the year. Over the three games his SV% was .981 with 0.667 GAA, raising his season numbers to (5-1-0, .920, 2.64). Jason Akeson (1-1) was brought up to replace Tye McGinn who was loaned to the Phantoms for the start of the AHL season. In the first 30 seconds of his second career game Akeson scored on the first shot of the night. He posted an assist against Pittsburgh as well as he settles into his role as the the 2nd line RW. A second change included giving Nik Grossmann three straight starts over Erik Gustafsson to try and bring down opposing team's offensive numbers. Jakub Voracek (5-2) was on fire at home, kicking things off with a 5 point night against the Canucks where he best Eddie Lack 4 consecutive times and added an assist on the Lecavalier PP tally which gave the game it's end score of 0-6. Voracek was also the only Flyer to score against the Ranger's third string goaltender David Leneveau, bringing him to a 5 game point streak. Captain Claude Giroux (1-4) also is sitting on a 5 game streak as the addition of Wayne Simmonds (0-4) seems to have really brought new life to the first line. But the Flyer who showed the most over the three game span was Sean Couturier (2-2) whose three point night against the Penguins gave the Flyers their biggest win of the season.

Game 8 vs. Pittsburgh

It was 2-2 entering the third. There was an air of hopefulness in the Flyer’s locker room. The Pens are probably a better team than the Flyers, but the Flyers all knew they only had to be better than them for 20 minutes and they would be tied with their arch rivals for the division lead. Having already gone 3 for 4 on the kill there was an agreement by the coaching staff to limit the amount of shifts for the third line to start the period, Downie cannot be trusted late in important games. Streit had two points on the night and was looking good, while the first pairing of MacDonald and Grossmann was a -1; the coaches switched their minutes going into the third.

Each line had its shot at the goal during their opening shifts of the period, which felt good. The crowd was into the game as well, and then it happened. Wayne Simmonds brought the puck into the offensive zone, drops back the pass to Voracek. Backhand pass to the top of the circle. Giroux shoots- HE SCOOOOOORRRREEEESSSSS! The Wells Fargo Center erupted as the Flyers took back the lead with 15 to play. Pittsburgh took their timeout, but with every replay of the goal on the jumbotron the crowd just got louder and louder.

Coach Lappy took this time to assemble a plan for the forwards lines. "We're shutting them down. 15 more minutes. Grinders I want you out there next; then Hartsy, Coots, and Read," Lappy tapped the top of Akeson's helmet in appreciation for the work he did tonight. "30 second shifts the rest of the night, smart passes, don't get too fancy out there. Vinny. Jake. You two are going to switch off playing with G and Simmer the rest of the night."

Lappy kept Akeson and Downie on their PP units to keep some legs fresh, but with the two worst defensive forwards were pulled from the lineup on even strength. The Flyers were playing with a spark they hadn't seen all season, they were out skating the Penguins and running circles around them, forcing Dupuis into taking a tripping call. The powerplay produced no results however and after Couturier came back onto the bench from a shift on the advantage with no shots on net Joe Mullen grabbed him by the face shield and asked, "Who is the second line centre of the Philadelphia Flyers?"

"I am."

"Who?!"

"I am!"

"WHO!?"

"I AM!"

"THEN GET BACK OUT THERE!" Coots fired himself back over the boards. Timonen was holding the puck back at the point, the young centre came from behind and grabbed the puck in stride as he held off the Pittsburgh defense. Between the circles Coots deked Marc-Andre Flurey and with the goalie far to the right side of his crease Sean wrapped around the back of the net to light up the lamp and put the Flyers up by two with 10 minutes remaining.

With the two goal lead the Flyers were again running circles around the Pens. The shift after the power play saw Crosby and Malkin mix up a line change, and the Flyers again went to the advantage. This time Couturier's groups started things in the offensive zone, and after he won it out to Akeson the rookie winger fed it back to the front of the net where Couturier was able to find twin again. The Flyers held onto the lead as Mason played perfect for the final minutes of the games. The two Pennsylvania clubs evenly shared the game's 74 shots, but Steve Mason and Sean Couturier were able to steal the game.

After the game Joe Mullen was seen with his arm draped around Couturier's shoulders.