Five Philadelphia Flyers games to watch in the first half of the 2019-20 season.
October 4 vs. Chicago
The Philadelphia Flyers begin the season against the Chicago Blackhawks. This game is notable not only because it will be the first time to see the black and orange in the 2019-20 regular season, but because the game will be played in the Czech Republic. The game, which is part of the 2019 NHL Global Series, will take place in the O2 Arena in Prague to open the season for both teams.
It will be the first time that the Flyers have ever played a regular-season game outside of the USA or Canada and marks a historic event for the team. The Global Series should also help grow the fanbase of the Flyers, and the NHL, internationally. There is always a certain excitement surrounding the start to any season, playing the game in the Czech Republic should add to the buzz surrounding the matchup.
October 9 vs. New Jersey
Let’s face it, the New Jersey Devils, along with the New York Rangers, had perhaps the best offseason in the league. The Devils went from being one of the worst teams in the NHL laboring through a full rebuild to a playoff contender. The Devils just made the Metropolitan Division a little bit more crowded. After sending five teams to the playoffs in the 2018-19 season, the division has gotten even stronger over the summer. There is a legitimate chance for any of the eight teams to make the playoffs.
The Devils and Flyers will be trying to separate themselves from the pretenders in the division. After drafting Jack Hughes first overall, the Devils continued their active offseason by signing, P.K. Subban, Nikita Gusev, and ex-Flyer Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds will be making his return to the Wells Fargo Center in a different uniform and should get a warm reception from fans. The game is also one of twenty Flyers’ games that will be on national television, so Philadelphia fans across the country can watch. Rivalry games are always something to pay attention to. However, with both teams hoping to get a statement win early in the season, this game is a can’t miss.
November 10 @ Boston
This may be the stiffest test that the Flyers face in 2019. Not only will they be on the backend of a double-header, but they will also be facing off against one of the best teams the league has to offer. After a game against a solid team in Toronto, the Flyers will have to travel to Boston overnight and perform their best to get points from the game in the TD Garden. Many questions will be answered in this game. Will Carter Hart play both ends of a double-header? Will the Flyers be able to perform against one of the strongest teams in the league away from home after travel?
This game will ultimately show how mentally tough the Flyers are and whether or not they are ready to compete with the class of the league. Should Philadelphia perform well, even if they do not get a win, it will show that they are ready to make a playoff push. If not, it might not be time for the black and orange to think about playing in the postseason.
December 11 @ Colorado
Another one of the nationally broadcast games, this game should just be fun to watch. The Avalanche are skilled and fast. They also, like the Flyers, are full of young talent. It is always exciting to see Nathan MacKinnon fly around the ice and show off his talent shooting the puck. Add in some other top-tier offensive talent, exciting “rookie” Cale Makar, and this will be an exciting game.
The Avalanche offense should also serve as a gauge as to how much the Flyers’ defense improved over the offseason. Philadelphia should also bounce back after a slower offensive season and be a fun team to watch in 2019-20. Both sides will be flying around the ice and aiming for corners in what could be a shootout. I cannot remember the last time I got to see these two teams face off on national television and can’t wait to watch the action unfold.
December 23 vs. New York Rangers
The last Flyers game on live television in 2019 has the potential to be the most heated. As I mentioned before the Rangers also had a great offseason and look to compete for a playoff spot in the crowded Metro division. The Flyers will be looking to make sure the Rangers do not get ahead of themselves too fast. The game will undoubtedly be competitive as there is never love lost when these two teams play.
The atmosphere should also be fantastic inside the Wells Fargo Center due to the importance of the game and the general dislike for the Rangers. I believe that any game that would be amazing to be inside the stadium will also be awesome to watch on TV. With many people traveling and preparing for the holidays, this game will serve as a break from all of the holiday madness for all Flyers fans.
So, those are the top five games to watch for the Orange and Black in 2019. While these games are certainly can’t miss, I urge Flyers fans to attend as many games as they can in the upcoming season. What games are you most looking forward to? Reply in the comments below!