RALEIGH, N.C. -- Something about being uncomfortable seems to light a fire under the Flyers these days.
After winning back-to-back games Sunday and Monday against the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, the Flyers brought their season road record to 6-1-1, best in the NHL. They were 2-0-1 on their recent swing through Florida and North Carolina.
Its not that they dislike playing in front of the home crowd, but something about being away from the Wells Fargo Center has allowed the Flyers to simplify their game and focus on the basics.
We come off strong and rolling four lines, Claude Giroux said. Everybodys playing strong, everyone is stepping up. We just feel uncomfortable a little bit, so it makes us want to jump a little bit more. Its just having fun out there.
Back-to-back games are never easy, but the Flyers were able to avoid major mistakes Monday night, for the most part. They refused to back down, even when the Hurricanes repeatedly chipped away at their lead and climbed within a goal.
Coach Peter Laviolette said he believes the hard work required to hold leads and succeed in inhospitable circumstances is something that comes from the top.
I think it really starts with good leadership, Laviolette said. And I think our leadership has been excellent. From there, I think it just comes to a competitiveness. Its a little bit more difficult, the buildings never as friendly as it is at home. Weve got a good group that works really hard. The work hasnt really been a problem all year.
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What has been a bit of a problem, according to Laviolette, is his teams penchant for taking too many penalties. More than a few times in Florida and Raleigh, Laviolette referenced that discipline has been an issue for the Flyers, once calling their frequent penalty-taking unacceptable.
As of their game on Monday, the Flyers had received 94 minor penaltiesmost in the league. Theyre averaging 16.9 minutes on the kill per game. Only the Boston Bruins, with 17.1, average more.
Its all but inevitable that the bad behavior will eventually catch up to them if they dont tighten up their game and cut down the infractions. As Laviolette said in Florida, too many penalties throw a teams lines out of whack and take the rotation out of the bench.
But lately, the Flyers have managed to escape major damage nonetheless.
Mondays 5-3 win in Carolina proved the kill wasnt perfect, but the team had killed 26 of its opponents last 27 power-play chances heading into the game.
I think the PK is something that takes time, it takes work at it, Max Talbot said. When youve got a new group and you start the season, you try to find your rhythm and stuff like that. But the more we get asked to kill, I think the better were getting. Im not saying its perfect, but its definitely getting better and better.
After a rocky start to the season, the Flyers PK unit has successfully killed off 86.6 percent of the teams penalties. That puts them at 11th in the league, but climbing steadily.
The penalty kill is also responsible for three shorthanded goals, putting the Flyers in a tie for third, behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and, ironically enough, the Hurricanes, who technically netted two against them on Monday (though one was a penalty shot).
Its just hard work, Matt Read said. The forwards are trying to stay in the shooting lanes, not giving the D men good opportunities to shoot the puck. And our goalies are the most important person on the PK, and theyre doing their job. I think its just a group effort out there.
A group effort, indeed. The Flyers are a team, as Giroux pointed out after the win in Raleigh, that need everyone in the lineup to contribute. Thats what they received against the Panthers and Hurricanes early this week. That's what they'll hope to get on Thursday, when they host the Winnipeg Jets.
Weve got good leadership in the locker room, Laviolette said. And guys that are willing to compete.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com