There were always going to be high hopes surrounding the potential offensive production of Flyers winger Joel Farabee after he was selected 14th overall out of Boston University in 2018.
But the 21-year-old is clicking on all cylinders, at least in terms of his scoring production, as he’s added another dimension of an offensive threat to the Flyers’ lineup.
Farabee potted two goals in Philadelphia’s Tuesday-night loss in Pittsburgh to the Penguins — the first of a three-game series set against the in-state rivals that carries into the weekend.
In just 19 games played this season, Farabee has 10 goals with nine assists for 19 points. It’s a considerable jump in production from last year when he had just eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 52 games played.
His production is headlining a Flyers first line that also features Sean Couturier and James Van Riemsdyk as the only trio of Philadelphia forwards that are contributing — and they’ve done so in a big way.
Over their last five games, Van Riemsdyk has recorded eight points (three goals, five assists), Couturier has seven (three goals, four assists), and Farabee added six (three goals, three assists).
“[I think Couturier and Van Riemsdyik] are some of the smartest guys I ever played with,” Farabee said of his linemates last week. “I think [Van Riemsdyk] has to be up there as one of the smartest guys in the league. It’s pretty easy for me to be able to play with them.
“They find the soft ice so well and I just try to find them and keep our legs moving. I think when we play fast together, we’re pretty tough to stop.”
Meanwhile, Claude Giroux and Kevin Hayes were the only Flyers to have more than four points during the entire month of February.
“Coots’ line brought their A-game,” Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said. “I would say the other three lines that I mixed and matched there were looking for some chemistry, some jump… They played a strong game but we need a little more from our other guys.
“At the end of the day, this is a team game and a team effort… We’re going to find a way to rebound here.”
As of Wednesday, the Flyers are tied for third in the Eastern Division and just three points behind the leading Washington Capitals and New York Islanders with games in hand.
