After returning home from a devastating three-game road trip, the Philadelphia Flyers had only one on-ice goal in mind: sweep the next four games against underwhelming opponents to enter the holiday break on a high note.



They did just that.



It wasn’t always smooth. It required a shootout to take down the plucky Ottawa Senators on Saturday, and they were tied with the New York Rangers at the start of Monday’s third period. Yet the Flyers outscored the four opponents by a combined 19-7 margin (not counting the “goal” for winning the skills competition), and now sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division. They’re on a 104-point full-season pace and trail only the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders.



The Flyers earned their three-day break. Until they return to the ice for Friday’s practice, they’ll be able to relax and reconnect with family and friends, before the start of another demanding road trip on...