No one really expected the Philadelphia Flyers to be in last place in the Metro Division on the last day of October.
The Flyers sit eighth in the Metro with a 3-8-4 mark, good enough for 10 points. Granted, Philly is tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets with 10 points. But the Jackets have played four fewer games than the Flyers.
So, with that situation in mind, is it time to write the Flyers’ obituary on the season?
Not by a mile.
Let’s consider the usual signpost for playoff chances. The general rule of thumb is that teams in a playoff spot by Thanksgiving typically make the playoffs that season.
In general, 75% of teams in a playoff spot on Thanksgiving end up making the postseason. There have been some notable exceptions either way. Some teams have fallen off, while others have rebounded.
But 75% is hard to ignore. And that’s the goal right now. The Flyers need to have one heck of a November to get back into the thick of the playoff race.
Sure, the thought sounds encouraging, but is it realistic?
Flyers need massive improvement across the board
One of the numbers, among many, that stands out is the Flyers’ road record. Philly is 1-5-1 away from Xfinity Mobile Arena.
So, saying that the Flyers have to play better on the road is about as simplistic as it gets. But that has pretty much been the difference this season. When looking at some of the road losses for Philly, it isn’t hard to see the issues. There was a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, then a 5-1 pounding at the hands of the Boston Bruins, and the latest 5-2 loss in Washington.
You have to think that if the Flyers had been more competitive in any of those games, there might have been a chance to rescue some points.
And that brings us to another crucial point. The Flyers built their identity last season on being a gritty, defensive team that found timely scoring.
The club also benefited from a breakout year from Dan Vladar.
Well, the grit and the defense haven’t been there. Meanwhile, Vladar has regressed, sporting a 3.26 GAA and an .888 SV% in seven games this season.
And then, there’s the scoring. Philadelphia is dead last in the NHL, averaging 1.93 goals per game. The power play is 26th in the league, while surrendering 3.33 goals per game, which is good for 23rd in the league.
So, how do the Flyers improve their scoring? Anyone with an answer to that question should win the Nobel Prize. Trevor Zegas and Matvei Michkov have done their part. However, Porter Martone and Christian Dvorak have struggled massively this season.
On top of that, the absences of Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny have not helped matters. Does that mean that it might just be a matter of time before things get back on track? Possibly. But everyone needs to play with a major sense of urgency, as time is running out for the Flyers to salvage their season.
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