It's usually not as simple as it looks. But look how easy it is when the Flyers keep it simple. They made good decisions in all three zones, including staying out of the penalty box in an utterly straightforward 7-2 dismantling of the Senators Tuesday night.
Experience suggests you cant introduce eight new players and drastically elevate the scoring responsibilities of players like Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk entering only their third full seasons without complication. But except for a brief stretch in the second period, the Flyers' third straight road shutdown was even easier than it is to call the Senators the worst team in the league less than two weeks in.
Ottawa looked so bad, in fact, we still have to resist the urge to trash the Flyers for losing their last seven visits there, but these things happenlike so much good happening for the Flyers its almost eerie.
Practically every transition Paul Holmgren willed upon the team in a startling off-season of change looks seamless. Sean Couturier, who scored his first goal, continues to be a revelation. Jake Voracek didnt have to score to play his best game as a Flyer, and Jaromir Jagr doesnt have to score, although he will, to look 30 years old again.
Matt Read has played how many NHL games? Wayne Simmonds' hands are better than advertised and somebody named Harrison Zolnierczyk went up top like the sky is the limit.
The power play is clicking, the penalty killing has been superb, and sitting out the first four games has been no water off the back of Sergei Bobrovsky. Ottawa had one chance to make a game of it, at 4-1 when Giroux lost Zack Smith on a breakaway, and Bobrovsky snuffed it out.
It gets harder Thursday against unbeaten Washington. In the meantime, this shouldnt take much effort to enjoy.
Jay Greenberg covered the Flyers for 14 years for the Daily News and Evening Bulletin. His history of the Flyers, Full Spectrum, was published in 1996. E-mail Jay at jayg616@aol.com.