From November 19th to December 4th the Flyers embarked on an 8 game gauntlet within the Metropolitan division. Regardless of where the Flyers might finish the season, any hopeful playoff team knows how crucial an inter division run like this is. One way to view these games is to realize more than 2 points are on the line here, every match you not only score 2 playoff points, but you also take away 2 from your inter divisional opponent. There are 82 games in a season, but any chance you can get the upper hand it adds up quick. Down the line too many teams end up wishing they’d won a few more games early on.
The Flyers have had a surprising start to their season thus far shocking too many. The Metro division continues the tradition of being the tightest race of any for a playoff spot. At the time of this post there is only a 7-point difference between 2nd and 7th place. One bad stretch of games can easily sway the playoff standings massively, which we observed this past 10 games. The Flyers finished the Metro run securing 9 out of a possible 16 points with a record of 4-3-1. The end of this run brought a welcome change as the Flyers won back to back games against the Penguins both of which came in overtime. With the Penguins sweeping the home series against the Flyers last year for the first time since 2017/2018, taking two during this run was even more enjoyable to see.
Ok so to catch up! The Flyers had a great run in their division and continued to play the right way. The end of the Metro run saw the Flyers head out West with a 2 game win streak. Carolina went from 2nd in the Metro to 6th place (mainly on the back of poor goaltending) and the Flyers vault into that second place spot. The team projected to finish as a bottom 3 team in the league continues to ignore the noise marching forward!
While many of us have very mixed feelings about a rebuilding team ginding out win after win, we can’t ignore what we’re watching. The Flyers are winning and currently have a 47% chance of making the playoffs according to MoneyPuck.
This team under Coach Tortorella has focused intently on playing “the right way” establishing a winning culture of where they wish to be once talented prospects join the team. While having Matvei Michkov and Cutter Gauthier certainly brings their own level of hope, I’ve often wondered why the current roster is viewed as so hopeless? Surely, a season with hard fought wins and adversities overcome will provide its own kind of development for the younger players. Many of us had concerns over this roster at the beginning of the season, myself included. Largely, I was skeptical of what level of play we’d get out of Sean Couturier after missing 2 years of play. I have to say the level of play we see night in and night out may not be flashy or awe inspiring just yet, but the little victories continue to add up. Playing smart effective hockey without over complicating things has helped this team find ways to win.
While nobody is saying the rebuild is finished, far from it, what harm is there in cheering for this teams continued developmental progress? I too often hear the statistics argument of “every win takes away a shot at a top 5 draft pick”. I firmly hear these concerns and agree a rebuilding team should generally not be winning these many games to avoid middling out against a true playoff team with higher end talent. These concerns are valid, and recent data has shown how crucial draft picks can be (just look at Michkov’s effect in Philly) You have to understand how important winning is for development. Winning, playing the right way, teaching the players how to bring back a winning culture of hockey to Philadelphia.
How can we say the Flyers are prepared for Cutter & Michkov to change the course of the team’s future without laying the foundation for them? From top to bottom this entire organization has been hard at work to change. From the stadium events to the Power Play staff, changes have been made to promote a better winning culture. The active players are setting the framework for a beautiful future of Flyers Hockey. Don’t discount what they can do currently, and the lasting impact it will have moving forward. Enjoy the ride Flyers fan, being miserable has gone on long enough hasn’t it?
By: Anthony Spotts (@SpottsonGoal)
photo credit: alamy.com
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