Flyers show the right kind of fight in win over Devils

NEWARK, NJ -- The Flyers realize they are far from out of the woods, but Saturday's 1-0 win over the host New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center showed they have some fight in them, not the kind they demonstrated when they were trailing by a touchdown the night before.

Everybody on the team and in the organization was embarrassed after Friday's 7-0 loss to the visiting Washington Capitals.

By now, most hockey fans have seen the fisticuffs the Flyers resorted to in the third period on Friday. The entire evening was an embarrassment. General manager Paul Holmgren read the riot act to the Flyers after the second period.

What was said?

"It's better to keep that in house," said forward Jake Voracek.

Needless to say, everybody was tense and Saturday's game could have pushed this stumbling team that much closer off the cliff.

So for one night, the Flyers deserve credit for grinding things out, playing outstanding fundamental hockey and committing no giveaways.

No doubt the players pride was deeply stung by Friday's debacle.

"You never want get shelled 7-0 in your own building," said Brayden Schenn, who scored the game's lone goal. "It's not (that) you get beat 7-0 but there was no compete and there were lot of things we did wrong last night but we put that behind us and wiped the slate clean and can build on this."

The Flyers were most proud of the fact that they didn't wilt in the third period against the Devils. It's been a problem. On Tuesday, they held a 2-1 lead entering the third period against the talented Anaheim Ducks at the Wells Fargo Center, and ended up losing 3-2.

"It helps every time you get another win in tight games, 1-0 or whatever it is and play a strong (third) period, that  helps," coach Craig Berube said. "It gives you confidence and makes you believe."

The Flyers won't become true believers until they can show more consistency on offense. They are 4-9 and have scored a grand total of 21 goals.

Yet this was not a night to pick on the offense, there will be plenty of time for that.

This is still a team that is lacking not only scoring punch, but collective confidence. More efforts like Saturday's will build on the confidence.

And for one night, a team that was feeling horribly about itself after Friday, gained some much needed respect 24 hours later.

-Marc Narducci