Photo Credit: The Pro Photo Group

By Noam Gumerman

The Carolina Flyers are back in action as they get ready to enter the final stretch of the season over the next month. After a four-game losing streak to begin their season, the Flyers have bounced back, winning their last three games in a row, and find themselves just one game down in the loss column from South Division rivals Atlanta and San Diego, with one final game against Atlanta still to come.

But to claw all the way back into the playoff picture, the Flyers need to take control of their destiny and take care of business when they are expected. And in order to do that, they need to beat the Houston Havoc at home this Friday, at 7 p.m. EDT.

Houston comes into this game 1-6, and at the very bottom of the South Division standings. But Carolina cannot afford to overlook the Havoc. Their lone win came over a very good and very talented Colorado Summit team in a stunning upset, and they played Madison, Los Angeles, and their most recent matchup against Austin Sol, the undefeated South Division leaders, within two points.

For the Flyers, their key will be continuing to effectively generate blocks. In their first four games (all losses) they lagged near the bottom of the league in blocks per game. In each of their three wins, they have been forcing more turnovers than in their losses, dictating the play on the field more defensively, and generating more opportunities for their offense to score.

Additionally, Allan Laviolette on the Flyers' O-line, has been otherworldly this season. Laviolette has been the beating heart, engine, and clutch playmaker over and over again for this team, and has vaulted himself into UFA league MVP contention with his incredible throwing and distribution through the first seven games of the season. If the Flyers are going to win games down the stretch and force themselves into the playoff picture, it’ll start with Laviolette.