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Advanced Stats Basics and Flyers Ranks Thus Far

By Ryan Hodge

July 28, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Jakub Voracek #93 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates a goal by teammate Sean Couturier #14 during the first period of the exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Penguins prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on July 28, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. Mandatory Credit: Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via USA TODAY Sports
July 28, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Jakub Voracek #93 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates a goal by teammate Sean Couturier #14 during the first period of the exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Penguins prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on July 28, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. Mandatory Credit: Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via USA TODAY Sports /
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Where Do the Flyers Sit Currently Based on These Metrics?

Now that we have a good grasp on these basic advanced metrics, let’s take a look at where the Flyers sit thus far this season (13 games played). Unfortunately, the stats validate the current concerns of the fanbase despite the strong start record-wise.

Though the Flyers sit at 8-3-2 and hold 2nd place in the East division, there are cracks in the armor. The Flyers rank 31st in CF% (44.55%), 28th in xG% (45.34%), and rank 1st in PDO at a sky-high, and unsustainable,105.6 thanks to a league-high 13.56% shooting percentage. For reference league, the average shooting percentage is generally around 9%.

Yikes.

The good news is the Flyers have a large sample size of driving play and winning the shot quality battle dating back to last season. They finished 9th in CF% at 51.02% and 15th in xG% at 50.64% a year ago with a roster and coaching staff that is virtually untouched so they should be able to recapture that level of play.

Philadelphia Flyers
Alain Vigneault, Philadelphia Flyers (Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports) /

The Flyers have also been one of the most dangerous offensive teams despite their low xG total. They’re getting outshot so badly that it is negating all the good work they do whenever they do make their way into the offensive zone.

There’s been plenty of adversity that can be at fault for the Flyer’s poor process thus far. Losing Sean Couturier (the team’s best play driving forward) for three weeks, the reintegration of Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick who have both been out of hockey for significant amounts of time, the loss of Matt Niskanen, and the lack of training camp all play a factor in the poor process thus far.

So long as they break out of this funk and get back to driving play, the team won’t experience an epic collapse, if they don’t, things can end up turning real ugly real fast.

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