The Flyers Raffl Rebounded Nicely in the 2020 Playoffs After a Less than Stellar 2018 Playoff Run
Call it redemption. After a playoff effort for the Flyers in 2018 against the Penguins that could only be characterized as brutal Michael Raffl wanted redemption. The 2020 playoffs gave Raffl just that.
The forward started out strong with a goal and an assist against the Bruins before injuring his leg on a slew foot by Jeremy Lauzon. Raffl would play in only nine games in the post season, due largely to the injury, and would finish tied for second with four goals, (Laughton led the team with five).
The advanced metrics were not as favorable as he recorded a corsi percentage of just under 41%. The team in general faced a corsi headwind, with only the Giroux-Couturier-Voracek line finishing above 50%. Some Raffl’s corsi struggles could be explained by his pairing with Nate Thompson, who was something of a corsi blackhole, sucking down every team mate who got with range of his bad even strength play.
When paired with someone other than Thompson his number were better. His surprisingly low corsi could also be attributed to the bottom six malaise that set in as the playoffs progress. The coaching staff seemed to abandon any kind of strategy in the groupings on the third and fourth lines and made it little more than a dumping ground for oddities and spare parts.
The goal differential was more indicative of Raffl’s play. He was on the ice for seven goals for and only one against in five on five hockey. Raffl would score four of the seven goals. The winger’s goal scoring outpaced offensive pieces like TK, JVR and even Giroux. Considering his injury and his line mates, usually Thompson and Pitlick, Raffl was the brightest spot on the bottom six and one of the team’s best forwards.
Raffl had little impact on special teams, playing only six minutes as the eighth forward on the penalty kill, while not allowing a goal. He played precisely 36 seconds on the power play, which did not yield much in the way of scoring chances.
After watching what was no less than a dumpster fire in 2018, Raffl had a fine run in the playoffs. Just mitigating the Nate Thompson effect should garner him points, but Raffl actually thrived in that circumstance.
Though the Flyers fell short it is hard to see how Raffl could be viewed as a problem. In fact, considering how well Hart played combined with Raffl’s efforts it is hard not to think the Flyers squandered a chance for a great run. Raffl has been doing whatever the team has asked for years and it was gratifying to see him enjoy playoff success.