The Philadelphia Flyers are lastly again to their profitable methods. After beginning their 2024-25 marketing campaign at a disastrous 1-5-1, they’re now 4-6-1. It has come at a price, although—their offense. Is sacrificing that a part of their recreation good or dangerous for them, seeing as they aren’t anticipated to be a championship contender? Let’s focus on some positives and negatives.
Constructive One: Flyers Have Some Construction
One of many positives to the Flyers’ shift in play is that they’ve some construction. Throughout their first few video games, they performed a method atypical to what we noticed in 2023-24. This led to the group being outplayed pretty steadily and down within the dumps with the worst groups within the NHL. They appeared the half.
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Not too long ago, although, the Flyers have seen a return to their earlier kind. Goaltending has been there for them (one thing we’ll focus on extra), however that largely has to do with the truth that not a lot is occurring. The Orange and Black aren’t giving up high-danger seems to be however additionally they aren’t producing too a lot of them. Since they aren’t as proficient as a lot of their opponents from high to backside, this offers Philadelphia a bonus. Their construction has allowed them to win three of their final 4 video games.
Detrimental One: Michkov’s Offensive Improvement Is Restricted
Per 60 minutes, the Flyers are solely producing 2.42 anticipated targets (twenty seventh) and a couple of.38 precise targets (additionally twenty seventh) at even energy. They’ve been one of many higher likelihood suppressors within the NHL, too, however the lack of offense except for the person benefit is considerably troubling. That’s particularly the case for Matvei Michkov.
Due to course, the 19-year-old leads the group in anticipated targets generated at even energy—however it’s solely 2.90 per 60 minutes. He has blown the group’s (surprisingly low) expectations for him out of the water, but he’s nonetheless not reaching his fullest offensive potential. This has to do with the best way the Flyers play.
It’s good for Michkov to discover ways to keep away from defensive blunders, however his offense is being restricted. Prime-tier offensive gamers outscore their defensive futility as a result of it’s higher for them to maintain their full consideration on scoring. Nikita Kucherov and Sidney Crosby are prime examples of this. It permits for fun-to-watch hockey that makes it so the superstars really have a celebrity influence.
However that’s not taking place with Michkov. He’s not in the identical tier as these gamers (a minimum of not but), however he is kind of indistinguishable from a normal top-six ahead except you’re actually paying consideration. He does the little issues that make him particular (giving him Rookie of the Month honors for October), however he’s too targeted on enjoying “Flyers hockey” and never his personal recreation. He brings a component that nobody else can, which is why he was drafted. Let him play prefer it.
On the flip facet, goaltender Samuel Ersson is lastly regaining his confidence. It’s comedic timing contemplating the final piece I revealed relating to the Flyers’ goaltending, however he’s lastly beginning to play to his upside once more. With a extra structured protection in entrance of him, he has been unstoppable in his previous two video games with 43 saves on 44 pictures. He’s making saves that he wasn’t earlier than, however the Orange and Black have positively helped him out.
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Low-event hockey is usually not nice for forwards, however the goaltender must be grateful. If Ersson is a long-term piece of the Flyers’ puzzle, this season is his time to show it. He went from hero to zero in a flash in 2023-24, giving him subpar numbers total. Stellar goaltending has been a problem for the Orange and Black traditionally (a minimum of since across the Nineteen Nineties), so having one would go a great distance. Yegor Zavragin is exhibiting star potential within the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), however it’s good to have an NHL-proven commodity.
Detrimental Two: Drysdale Is Out of His Component
When the Flyers battle offensively, so does Jamie Drysdale. Since he arrived in Philadelphia on Jan. 10, 2024, he has been fully out of his component to the purpose the place he actually isn’t even an NHL defenseman. The 22-year-old has misplaced a number of time to accidents (and battled via them in 2023-24, so he may simply want persistence), however his play this season has been disappointing. This has particularly utilized to low-event video games.
Drysdale has been at his greatest when he isn’t in his personal head and attempting too laborious to play the Flyers’ construction. When video games have gotten uncontrolled at each ends of the ice, that’s truly been his bread and butter. An offensive defenseman wants his offense, proper? He wants to acknowledge his personal potential and begin to gel with the Flyers higher. It’s simply an remark, however he has executed that greatest when video games have been thrilling and high-scoring. Some meals for thought.
The Flyers have received three of their final 4, however it has include a price. They’ve been ineffective within the offensive zone however nice within the defensive zone, resulting in some forgettable video games. Is that this a great factor, or not?
Stats courtesy of Pure Stat Trick
