The Flyers' official account put Brian Propp's 369 goals front and center today, just as Philadelphia sits 30th in the NHL.
It lands at an awkward time. The Flyers are 4-10-4 after Thursday night's 3-2 loss at the Rangers, and they've scored 39 goals in 18 games.
Propp's 369 is a big number for any player. For this group, it's a different universe.
Matvei Michkov leads the team with 10 goals this season, five of them on the power play. Over his NHL career he has 56 goals in 179 games, and he went without a point against New York.
Trevor Zegras has 97 career goals and sits three from 100, which is a nice personal milestone on a team that needs a lot more than milestones. He has 4 goals this season. Last year's Matvei Michkov carrying the goal load storyline has not gone away.
The Flyers pointed to Propp as a member of an exclusive club within the Orange & Black, and that club is exactly where the comparison gets uncomfortable.
How far the current Flyers sit from the franchise scoring tradition
Look past the top two and the picture gets thin. Christian Dvorak and Porter Martone have 3 goals each, and Noah Cates has 2.
Those three are playing real minutes too. Dvorak logged 19:43 at the Rangers, and he's a -3 on the season. The depth that is supposed to take pressure off Michkov and Zegras simply isn't producing.
Rick Tocchet's group is 1-6-1 on the road, and it's about to play another one. A team with 39 goals and a -22 goal differential doesn't need a history lesson, it needs a second and third scoring option. This is the very thing Zegras and Michkov needing more help pointed to before the Rangers game.
Nobody expects this roster to chase 369. But finding a few more goal scorers would be a start.
The Flyers get their next chance Sunday at Calgary, a Flames team that has also scored just 39 goals this season.
Quick hits
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSJohn Tavares is returning to the lineup against the Canadiens on Saturday, but as a winger, according to Jonas Siegel. That's a notable shift for a player fans know as a center.
LOS ANGELES KINGSPeter Laviolette says Alex Turcotte has progressed back to "day-to-day," with Kevin Fiala not far behind, per Zach Dooley. Good news for a Kings lineup that could use both.
INJURYMarcus Foligno and Nick Foligno won't play for the Minnesota Wild tonight against the Sharks, Michael Russo reports. That's two big bodies out of the lineup.
NEW YORK RANGERSThe Rangers have activated Joonas Korpisalo from IR and assigned James Reimer to Hartford. The goalie picture in New York just got clearer.
DALLAS STARSGlen Gulutzan says Miro Heiskanen is doubtful to play against San Jose on Saturday. Losing him would hurt the Stars on the back end.
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