First nine days in November may tell the Philadelphia Flyers who they really are

The Philadelphia Flyers took another game last night to end October on a high note, but at 4-6-1, they still have a lot of ground to make up. Unfortunately for the Flyers, they also got a tough schedule to open November, with a home game vs. the Boston Bruins before a three-game road trip ensues against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers. 

You may laugh at the fact I mentioned the Bruins here, considering their horrific start to 2024-25, but are they really a team anyone needs to be counting out? After crushing it in 2022-23 and playing well last season, I’m not taking Boston’s bad start with anything more than the lightest grain of salt, and neither should you. 

Boston is still a tough team that’s just fallen on hard times, and while the Flyers have an opportunity here, it should go without saying that taking them any more lightly is nothing short of a terrible approach. Plus, the Bruins remain an impeccable measuring stick for a young team like the Flyers, especially one that’s on a two-game winning streak. 

Teams will more than test the Flyers in the first nine days of November

But it will get even better on the fifth, as the Flyers will invade Raleigh, North Carolina, for a game against a powerful division rival. I wasn’t sure if the Hurricanes would sink or swim this season, thanks to the fact they lost some talent. But with 14 points, they already answered that question. 

Carolina also has 35 goals scored in nine games this season, giving them an incredible 3.9 goals for per game. Considering how bad the Flyers goaltending had been through most of October that helped me label the 2024-25 campaign a throwaway season; their defense and netminders will face plenty of tests come Tuesday. 

Thanks to the Tampa Bay Lightning seemingly getting weaker this season, it was also rational to think they’d also take a step back. But it hasn’t happened, and the Lightning find themselves in second place in the Atlantic Division before Friday’s slate. They too are a high-octane team with 39 goals. Once again, the Flyers won’t have it easy when they visit the Bay Area. 

Then come the Florida Panthers on November 9th, and we don’t need to take too deep of a dive here, considering how good this team, predictably, is this season. Florida’s also put up a lot of goals, and since they’ve given up 35 of them, they’re winning games by finding the net four-plus times. 

So, who are the Flyers?

Did I speak too soon with the “throwaway season” label, or did the Flyers just enjoy a couple of good games before they ultimately slide back into obscurity? Is Samuel Ersson finally coming around as the No. 1 goaltender, or is this just one of those fools gold moments?

Let’s see what the Flyers will do from now until November, and they might just foreshadow what kind of season fans can expect in 2024-25. Note, I said ‘might’ for a reason since we all know this team could look like they’re in it, only to disappoint their loyal fans later.