Good Things Happen In Threes

Superstition tells us that bad things happen in threes.  But yesterday, the number three was nothing but good for the Flyers.

The Flyers beat the Senators with a final score of 3-2, for their third win in a row.  Their previously sleepwalking power play went 3 for 4 attempts.  Wayne Simmonds posted three points.

I was really pulling for Simmer to score a hat trick, not just for the three goals, but also to see Bra Lady's latest underpinnings.  

The Flyers face the Penguins today in Pittsburgh.  Both of the Pennsylvania teams are red-hot right now, but the Flyers have more to prove.  

The Pens have already stamped their ticket to the postseason and would love to put the Flyers on the outside looking in.  The Orange and Black must continue to collect points and they are on a mission to rebound from the terrible effort they displayed against the Pens back in March at the Wells Fargo Center.

By all accounts, today's contest is sure to be a doozy.  Things to watch: 

(1)  Power plays.  The Pens have gone 4 for 7 recently on the power play.  Until yesterday, our power play was dismal, but all that matters is that it heats up at just the right time, and a 3/4 conversion is just what the Flyers needed.  I'd love to see the power play firing on all cylinders again today.

(2)  Goaltending.  There aren't enough superlatives to describe the play of Steve Mason down this stretch.  He has singlehandedly kept the Flyers in the playoff hunt.  The Pens lost Fleury to a concussion, true, but his replacement - rookie Matt Murray - shut out the Islanders yesterday in a 5-0 rout in Brooklyn.  How these goalies face off against each other will be interesting.

(3)  Rivalry.  Normally, sparks fly when these two teams meet, and we've come to expect a march to the penalty box during the games.  The Pens are going to do everything they can to irritate the Flyers in order to gain an advantage on the ice.  But the Flyers have been exceptionally disciplined lately, and they've posted wins by staying out of the box.  Let's see if the Flyers can keep their heads down and play hockey despite being taunted by a hated rival.

Bottom line:  With three more wins, I think the Flyers secure their trip to the playoffs.  But who's counting?