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Few stories have been as remarkable as the Philadelphia Flyers’ turnaround this season. The team seemed on its way to disaster after a 10-game losing streak, but it has since followed it up with seven victories in the past eight games.
How did the Flyers manage to pull off this miraculous reversal of fortune? According to star winger Jakub Voracek, it started by having everyone get drunk together and air out their feelings:
I asked #Flyers Jake Voracek what helped the team turn it around following the 10-game skid:
— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) December 22, 2017
"We got drunk, that helped. We sat down together, we talked about some stuff we wanted to do better. We had some heart-to-hearts and it worked out so it was good."
Usually we wouldn’t recommend trying to use alcohol to solve any of your problems, but it seems like the Flyers needed an opportunity to decompress and reestablish their chemistry as a group. What better way to do that than to enjoy a few drinks while hashing out your problems?
It’s not often that you’ll hear a player be this candid, but Voracek has to be feeling pretty good now with the Flyers’ playoff chances, once on life support, suddenly looking realistic again. Philadelphia couldn’t really have afforded to let those struggles last much longer, otherwise it would’ve dug a serious hole in a crowded Metropolitan Division.
Voracek in particular has been on fire during Philadelphia’s recent hot streak. He’s recorded 12 points in the past eight games, including a pair of three-assist performances on the road. The return to form from star players like Voracek and Claude Giroux has been a big part of that.
Teams typically don’t want their players out partying together, for good reason. But it seems in this case, the Flyers took advantage of an opportunity to blow off some steam and regain their mojo.