Six Things We Learned After The Flyers First Week of Hockey

We are five games into the new hockey season. Currently, the Flyers have a 1-3-1 record, their worst opening record since John Tortorella assumed the head coaching duties. Still, things don't look too bad. As we look back on the opening week of the 2024-25 season, let's talk about what we have seen thus far.

Matvei Michkov Seems to Be the Real Deal

Michkov has played in five games. He leads this team with two goals and two assists, both on the power play. He's among the team leaders with 11 shots on goal—not bad so far. Right now, he seems to be everything we were led to believe. He's still getting used to the pace and play of the NHL, but this looks like a tremendous addition to the organization.

Michkov seems more comfortable playing alongside young players like Morgan Frost, Owen Tippett, Bobby Brink, etc. than older vets like Travis Konecny and Sean Couturier. Maybe that's for the best. So far he seems to be elevating the younger players' games as well. Brink is having a great start to this season as is Frost. 

Sam Ersson Is Holding Up Well

There were concerns about how well Ersson would perform this year, especially since the Flyers burned him out in March/April of last year. Also, he had come in as the backup last year and was not expected to be the number one goalie.

This year he's the team's legit number one and is proving the doubters wrong. He is currently sporting a 2.99 GAA and a save percentage of .894. Those are higher than you'd want to see, but in the first few games, those are always a bit skewed. He's let up ten goals so far this season. That's not awful, but he can be better. The defense also needs to help him out too.

More important is his confidence. Goalies are a funny breed. They are hot and then cold. Much like a quarterback or a pitcher (especially relievers), a lot of their strength, or weakness, is mental. If they are struggling in their head, they will struggle on the ice. We need to keep his confidence up so he doesn't collapse or burn out.

It's a good thing he is performing well too because...

Ivan Fedotov Might Not Be What Was Advertised

We've been waiting for years to see Fedotov play. He, himself, has been through a lot when you consider all the legal hoops (and Russian prison camps....I mean, reeducation centers) it took for him to come to Philly.

So far...blecchh! To be fair, NHL hockey is different than European hockey. The rinks are smaller. It can take a while for a goalie to get adjusted to that. But in a little less than two full games, he's allowed 10 goals. His GAA is at a hefty 6.09 with a save percentage of .818. That's not going to cut it.

However, the Flyers can't wait too long. If he goes out again and puts up another awful performance, he may have to spend some time in Lehigh Valley. And with a new report about Alexei Kolosov wanting to play in Philly and not Allentown, the team may have to give their other Russian prospect a chance to play and allow Fedotov time to regroup in the AHL.

We Actually Have a Power Play

The Flyers have five power-play goals in their first five games. Five! This may not sound like a lot, but it wasn't until November 18, 2023, in their 17th game of the season that they reached five goals (they would score two that night against Columbus to bring the total to six).

One of the biggest complaints of this time for the past decade or so is that this team can't function on the power play. Despite having a lot of talented players, they could never score on the man advantage....or a 5-on-3. 

It's too early to get too excited, but it could be a sign of things to come. Last year, everyone kept saying that a power-play goal here and there could've punched them a playoff ticket. If they continue on this path, maybe that can happen. Either way, it's good news. Keep it going.

Look at That Fourth Line

Scott Laughton has been dropped to the fourth line with Ryan Poehling and Garnet Hathaway. This looks like a dream fourth line. Laughton is tied with Michkov and Brink for the team lead in points. He also has been the most efficient shooter scoring twice on just seven shots.

Poehling and Hathaway seem like natural compliments to him as both have recorded three assists this season. This could easily become the best fourth line in the NHL and will be a joy to watch.

Again, this should be the domain of Nic Desalauriers. He is a great fourth-line bruiser. Hathaway can hit as well as put up points. This more than confirms that the feisty vet doesn't have space here in Philly.

Hot Starts, Slow Finishes

One of the Flyers' losses came in overtime. In two of the games lost by Philly, the Flyers held a lead in. This is something we saw in John Tortorella's first year in Philly. If there was no third period, the team would've won more games that year.

Let's hope that this is a symptom of just starting the year. I'd rather start slow and build up to a great run in the late winter-early spring than start strong now and fizzle out like last year.

Still, the Flyers are building early leads. Great! Now we just need to learn to hold onto those leads and earn some wins. A loss in OT is better than a regular loss as you at least pick up a point. I'd rather see this team pick up two points though.