Flyers-Bruins observations: Jake Voracek surging, Scott Gordon making the right moves

BOSTON – The Flyers have forgotten how to lose. They won their sixth straight Thursday by rallying past host Boston in overtime, 3-2, and inched to within nine points of a playoff spot.

Here are some observations:

Boston had beaten the Flyers in nine of the last 10 games at TD Garden before the Orange and Black erased a 2-1 third-period deficit Thursday and edged the Bruins.

Power-play goals by Oskar Lindblom and Travis Sanheim gave the Flyers just their second win in 25 tries this season when they faced a deficit heading into the third period. The Flyers scored as many power-play goals (two) as they had in their previous nine games combined. (Ivan Provorov was put on the first unit, and Sean Couturier was dropped to the second unit.)

Most impressively, the Flyers dominated the last 44 minutes. At one point, they were being outshot, 10-4. They outshot the Bruins by a 37-15 margin the rest of the way and dictated the pace.

Once again, it was the young players who played a key role, including Carter Hart (age 20), Provorov (22), Sanheim (22), and Lindblom (22).

The Flyers’ all-around play has improved since Hart has arrived. A coincidence? Hardly. Knowing they have a goalie who can make the important saves has given the team a jolt of confidence.

“Like I said before, he’s calm back there, he’s confident,” captain Claude Giroux said. “He gives us momentum in some parts of the game.”

Hart has won five straight and six of his last seven starts. During his five-game winning streak, he has a 2.38 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.

The kid looks like a keeper. ... and a player to build around.

Since the bye week ended, Jake Voracek looks energized and is playing perhaps his best hockey of the season. His passing has been superb, and he has cut down his turnovers.

The 29-year-old right winger went on a hot streak just before the break, and has played even better in the three games since the Flyers returned to action. Voracek had two primary assists Thursday and has 10 points in his last nine games.

Scott Gordon is making all the right moves – from tweaking the power play to adjusting the team’s neutral-zone forecheck – and, most importantly, is getting the young players to make strides. Lindblom, Sanheim, Provorov, Nolan Patrick, Hart and Anthony Stolarz are just some of the young players who have improved under the interim coach.

At the very least, he has given GM Chuck Fletcher and the Big Cigars a reason to pause before contacting Joel Quenneville.

Despite six straight wins, the Flyers are still a long shot to make the playoffs, but if they somehow sneak in, it would be almost impossible not to rehire the analytical Gordon, an expert communicator who has made the workplace a much more comfortable environment for everybody.

Provorov struggled mightily leading up to the all-star break. In the three games he has played since returning, however, the fiercely intense defenseman has resembled the player who looked like a future all-star last season.

Provorov played another monster game Thursday and was on the ice for a career-high 30 minutes, 20 seconds. He and defensive partner Sanheim (game-winner, assist, three blocked shots, four shots in 23:53) continued to excel.

Hart is the biggest reason the Flyers are inching closer in the wild-card standings. Provorov is the second-biggest reason.