Konecny gives Flyers a performance like he's ‘tired of losing' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Back in September, with the Flyers a week into training camp, Rick Tocchet was asked about Travis Konecny’s potential to drive the team’s rebuild forward.

The new head coach had noticed Konecny’s desire to start winning in Philadelphia.

“He’s a super kid, he has got a lot of leadership qualities, he knows there’s another level of that,” Tocchet said. “And he’s tired of losing, so he’s pissed.”

Konecny on Monday night definitely looked like a player that was fed up with losing. He spearheaded a road win that snapped the Flyers’ season-worst six-game skid. The 28-year-old winger scored both goals in a 2-1 decision over the Golden Knights, a team that came in on a seven-game winning streak.

For a second straight game, Konecny put the Flyers ahead 1-0 in the first period. Falling behind has been a major issue for the Flyers. They’ve faced a 1-0 deficit 32 times in 48 games.

But Konecny has gotten them started recently.

Then, in the third period of a 1-1 game, with the Flyers trying to fend off another Vegas power play, Konecny struck on the penalty kill. It was his 11th shorthanded goal over the last four seasons. Only the Panthers’ Sam Reinhart has more in that span with 13.

Konecny has 11 multi-point efforts this season. The Flyers have gone 10-1-0 in those games. With 17 goals and 26 assists in 47 games, Konecny is on pace to finish with his second straight season of 70-plus points.

That probably won’t mean much to him, though, if the Flyers miss the playoffs for a sixth straight season. The alternate captain is in his 10th season with the Flyers. He has been to the playoffs twice.

“He knows there’s a process of getting there,” Tocchet said in September. “He has bought in, he has worked extremely hard in practice. You can tell that he’s setting a pace. … He’s a big part of this.”

The Flyers entered Tuesday three points back of the Penguins for third place in a tight Metropolitan Division race.

If Konecny keeps playing like he did Monday night, he might drive the Flyers into the playoffs. He sure looked like a guy that wants it, a guy that has seen too many seasons defined by losing streaks.