NHL scores 2016: The Flyers are back in the Metropolitan Division race with six straight wins

It was really only a matter of time before the Flyers course-corrected. With a lineup boasting Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Travis Konecny, it was hard to imagine Philadelphia would stay below .500 for long.

After starting the year 9-13, the Flyers are off to a red-hot start to December. Now with six straight wins, Philadelphia is now the NHL’s fourth team this year to boast a win streak of more than five games.

A big reason for the Flyers’ resurgence is a big reason they were in a hole in the first place: their goaltending.

Steve Mason is back on his game, boasting a save percentage above .937 in his last three starts. With backup Michal Neuvirth out because of an injury, Mason has been able to string together a handful of quality starts, and the increase in work time has clearly done wonders for the goaltender.

Voracek has also shaken off his down 2015-16 season. The Flyers’ forward has seven points in his last six games, including the one on Tuesday that stole Philadelphia a 3-2 win in overtime.

It hasn’t all been roses for the Flyers. They’re still having problems keeping a third-period lead, though they’ve had success in extra hockey during this win streak, with two overtime wins and a shootout victory.

Even so, this streak has gotten the Flyers back in playoff contention. They’re fourth in the Metropolitan Division, but just two points back from the first-place Penguins, who are also hot. In a division separated by 10 points from top to bottom, this string of victories could be the difference for the Flyers come April.

Sabres 4, Oilers 3 (OT)
Devils 3, Canucks 2
Islanders 4, Rangers 2
Flyers 3, Panthers 2 (OT)
Blues 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Predators 4, Avalanche 3
Red Wings 4, Jets 3 (SO)
Blackhawks 4, Coyotes 0
Flames 2, Stars 1

* * *

* * *

1. The Devils are still perfect at home, but the game was a mess.

Hockey is an unforgiving sport. Both the Canucks and Devils found out when both sides had players go down within 10 minutes of game time on Tuesday.

First, Travis Zajac took an uncalled cross-check to the back that gave the forward a bad bloody — and broken — nose from the impact.

Zajac returned to the game later in the second. The next hit, though, was much worse in contrast. Philip Larsen was knocked out cold on a seemingly normal hit from Taylor Hall.

Larsen was out for a few moments on the ice, but he regained consciousness and was moving before a stretcher took him off and then to a local hospital.

The Devils eventually won the tilt 3-2, though the game was chippy throughout. New Jersey did keep its regulation home record in tact, now 8-0-2 at the Prudential Center.

2. P.K. Subban now has more goals in 25 games than he did in all of last season.

Can you believe P.K. Subban scored just six goals in the 2015-16 season? Sure, there’s injury time to account for, with just 68 games played last year — but yes, the defenseman had only six goals.

Now, through 25 games, Subban has surpassed that number with 43 games to go after notching his seventh in the Predators’ 4-3 win over the Avalanche.

Things seem to be looking up for Subban, who had a rough start to his Nashville career.

3. Connor McDavid avoided history by the narrowest of margins .

The Oilers lost to the Sabres in overtime. Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel went head to head for the first time this season, though neither the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick from the 2015 draft was the big story of the evening, as Evander Kane’s pair helped Buffalo to the victory.

Even so, McDavid avoided going three straight games without a point for the first time in his NHL career. Yes, in 73 career NHL games, McDavid has yet to go cold for three straight.

It’s no wonder McDavid is on a crazy pace, with 36 points in 28 games this season. The kid just never stops.

The Blues came back from a two-goal deficit to beat the Canadiens 3-2 in overtime. St. Louis now has two losses in its last eight, and it’s now just three points behind Chicago for the top of the Central. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have lost three of their last four and are coming back down to earth from their hot start.

Keith Yandle’s Iron Man streak was supposed to end at 577 straight games, after the Panthers’ defenseman had a lower-body injury. Yet Yandle played 23 minutes in Florida’s loss and extended the streak.