The Flyers are 6-8-5, they’re tied for the fewest goals scored in the league, they’ve won only two of their last 12, have been shutout twice and scored only one goal four times during that stretch, and they just lost 1-0 in overtime, at home, to the Sharks last night. They’re yet another shining beacon of dung in the Philly sports landscape, a truly putrid team completely devoid of a second line (something the team’s almost equally horrible beat writers are finally picking up on). And yet, they, too, are earning moral victories.

Tim Panaccio:

With any kind of luck, the Flyers might have gotten four points this week instead of two, following yet another loss after regulation play on Thursday night.

This time, it was 1-0 in overtime against the San Jose Sharks at the Wells Fargo Center, where fans accustomed to seeing goals by the bushel in recent years strain to catch a glimpse of any puck crossing the line (see Instant Replay).

The Flyers have just 15 goals on home ice through 10 games. They did, however, earn a point for the third straight game for just the second time this season.

 

Sam Carchidi:

But there were more positives than negatives on Thursday.

Consider:

* The Flyers outshot their opponents for the first time in the last 12 games. They had a 34-21 advantage _ 28-11 after the first period.

* After the first 10 minutes, the Flyers controlled most of the game.

* The defense played arguably its best game of the season.

* The Flyers’ penalty kill was 4 for 4, and it allowed a total of just two shots on the Sharks’ four power plays.

* Goalie Steve Mason had his third straight strong start and is starting to resemble the goalie who had a career season in 2014-15.

* The struggling second line _ Sean Couturier centering Wayne Simmonds and Matt Read _ created several scoring chances and had 11 shots on goal.

 

And the worst offender, Broad Street Hockey:


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The second may have been Philadelphia’s best even strength period of the season. They generated 14 scoring chances (4 high-danger) while San Jose was only able to create four (one high-danger). It was the Sean Couturier line that drove the team’s success. After struggling early to contain the Joe Pavelski-Joe Thornton tandem, they took the Sharks’ stars apart in the second period. Both players posted 33% Corsi For percentages in the period, while Couturier and his linemates finished well above 80 percent. The Flyers shutdown line not only produced numerous quality chances – they neutralized San Jose’s most dangerous forwards.

STOP IT. STOP IT. STOP IT. Is this what we’ve been reduced to? Seriously, is this what life as a Philly sports fan has become? I can’t take it. The Eagles are a massive disappointment. The Sixers may be the worst NBA team ever. The Phillies are… there, maybe? And now we’re declaring moral victories for the Flyers in 1-0 overtime losses? I don’t know if I can do this anymore. What is the sense in rooting for anyone, believing in anybody right now? It’s all a waste of time. If you watch Sixers games every night, like Jim does, I think you’re a loser, and an idiot. You’re literally watching two players who have any sort of future here. Two. You could glean more from YouTube highlights and then screw yourself during the 2.5 hours you get back. Paying attention to the Phillies is virtually useless until some sort of direction is apparent. They’re considering trading Ken Giles. Why? WHO KNOWS! Why not trade a 25-year-old closer with upside? Sounds reasonable to me! Watching the Eagles is the real-world equivalent of being a noob and playing seasoned pros in Madden online. Like, you believe there’s a chance for a little while, but in the end you just want to rip the plug out of the wall because, for the life of you, you can’t figure out how they always intercept your passes in the red zone! And back to the Flyers, who are putting together perhaps the most unexciting, uninteresting, meh season in Philly history. Oh, the Flyers are in-season? Still the same four forwards with a patchwork defense, goaltending issues and a general malaise that will likely result in another coach getting fired because he has to work with a deformed roster? Yep? Thought so! That’s where we are right now. I can’t do this. Really, I can’t. I might just start drawing dick-doodles and putting them in photo galleries so I can claim my page views during this nuclear winter. You’re all gonna watch me lose my mind one hairy penis at a time, starting now: