A pivotal point?

Tuesday, 19 February 2013 19:26

Written by Dave Molinari

Philadelphia, which will visit Consol Energy Center Wednesday at 7:38 p.m., is off to a decidedly lackluster -- or worse -- start, going 7-9-1 in its first 17 games.

The Flyers, though, are coming off a 7-0 victory on Long Island Monday, and it remains to be seen whether that game was a fluke or the start of a turnaround in Philadelphia's season.

The Penguins, who will be intent on making it be the former, have differing opinions on whether a single, lopsided victory can alter the course of a team's season.

"One game definitely gets that good feeling going forward," left winger Chris Kunitz said. "That definitely changes the atmosphere in the room."

Defenseman Matt Niskanen, however, believes that it takes more than just 60 good minutes.

"I think it's a process," he sad. "That can happen, a couple of breaks, where you get an early lead and the floodgates open because the other team is trying to get back in it. ... You have to string together three, four games probably."

Left winger Matt Cooke found a middle ground.

"I truly think one game is enough to get some confidence, to get some momentum to build on," he said. "That doesn't mean they're out of the hole yet, but you have to start somewhere."

The Flyers have a regular-season record of 5-1 at Consol Energy Center, with their only loss coming in a completely meaningless regular-season finale last April.

Then again, Philadelphia's goalie in all of those victories was Sergei Bobrovsky, who was traded to Columbus last June.