Photo Credit: Scott Audette | Credit: NHLI via Getty Images

The Flyers have played 29 games so far this season and I believe they’ve had a subpar forecheck game this season. I fully believe this was originally from the way that Vigneault had the team playing with constant dump-ins with players who didn’t have enough speed to chase it. Over the last 7 games under Yeo I’ve seen some improvements in all facets of the Flyers game but the Flyers are still very much in the process of improving the play of the team and getting consistent play out of the players. I don’t think there’s been such a massive change over the last 7 games that it would skew my numbers too heavily and it’s still worth taking a look at the Flyers forecheck rankings to this point of the season.

Total Good Forecheck Numbers:

Good forechecks is a stat I track every game when a forward makes an impactful play that hinders the other team from exiting the zone with the puck. All numbers and ice times shown are at even strength only.

• 1 – Couturier 29 – 29 games played – 15:24atoi
• 2 – Laughton 27 – 29 games played – 13:49atoi
• 3 – Van Riemsdyk 25 – 29 games played – 13:26atoi
• 4 – Konecny 21 – 29 games played – 14:53atoi
• 5 – 20 27 games played – 9:28atoi
• 6 – Atkinson 20 – 29 games played – 12:48atoi
• 7 – Brassard 18 – 18 games played – 11:28atoi
• 8 – Farabee 17 – 22 games played – 12:30atoi
• 9 – Giroux 17 – 29 games played – 14:35atoi
• 10 – Lindblom 16 – 28 games played – 12:08atoi
• 11 – Willman 14 – 12 games played – 11:19atoi
• 12 – Thompson 11 – 19 games played – 9:21atoi
• 13 – Frost 8 – 10 games played – 10:34atoi
• 14 – Aube-Kubel 5 – 10 games played – 9:44atoi
• 15 – Brown 5 – 14 games played – 9:35atoi
• 16 – Hayes 2 – 11 games played – 12:54atoi
• 17 – Cates and Bunnaman both with 0 with 6 games played between the 2 with minimal ice time in all games.

Now I’ll be showing the Flyers total good forechecks per 60 leaders, which puts every player on the same games played and ice time scale. This shows a players number on a full 60 minute basis. This is a better way to see who’s making the most impact with their time.

• 1 – Willman 6.1
• 2 – Brassard 5.2
• 3 – MaCewen 4.6
• 4 – Frost 4.5
• 5 – Aube-Kubel 4.3
• 6 – Laughton 3.9
• 7 – Van Riemsdyk 3.9
• 8 – Couturier 3.8
• 9 – Farabee 3.7
• 10 – Thompson 3.6
• 11 – Atkinson 3.3
• 12 – Konecny 2.9
• 13 – Lindblom 2.8
• 14 – Giroux 2.4
• 15 – Brown 2.2
• 16 – Hayes 0.2

Further Observations and Comments

Willman, Brassard, MaCewen, and Frost are the Flyers top forecheckers so far this season. Frost would be an obvious surprise to most but I’ve tracked every game of Frost‘s career to this point and he’s always been very good on the forecheck. I think the reasoning for this is simply speed kills. Frost is a smart player and very good skater, so even though he doesn’t have the play style that would lead you to believe he’d be good in this category he still is and it’s one of the reasons I strongly believe in Frost. I believe this is generally the same case for Brassard. You probably wouldn’t think it’s a big part of his game but he’s just a smart player with good skating which allows him to get on the other team’s defense. Willman and MaCewen are 2 more obvious players who would be at the top of the forechecking categories. In Willman‘s 12 games played he’s not only scored a couple of goals but has also led the Flyers in forechecking during that time. Willman has been a very effective 4th line player to this point. MaCewen has brought great energy and has almost played in every game for the Flyers to this point. MaCewen is just a simple hard working 4th liner and has gotten the job done. Thompson and Brown are 2 4th liners that haven’t brought an effective forecheck game. I’ve been very critical of Thompson’s play as a whole this year whereas I think Brown has made up for that with better play everywhere else. I’ve been very impressed with Van Riemsdyk’s defensive play this year and shows up 7th on the list. Hayes shows up as a distant last, Hayes has never really been a good forechecker with the Flyers but has more than made up for that with his defensive play everywhere else this year. I think everyone else on this ranking checks out.

My final comments are this, coming to nobody’s surprise is that the Flyers lack speed. There’s very few players who can make an impact on the game with their speed and it effects their game everywhere. Lastly I’m seeing improvements under Mike Yeo as head coach. Less dump-ins has helped the Flyers game in all facets, especially the forecheck game as they were never able to get the puck. Now when the Flyers are losing possession in the offensive zone I’m seeing the teams forwards acting faster to get themselves in a position to get the puck back and they aren’t just sending all the forwards at the defenseman leading to an easy out for the other team. Under Vigneault I feel like I saw 2 forwards going to the other teams defenseman every time trying to get the puck but as I mentioned the teams lack of speed didn’t really work with that. Now I think the forwards are trying to take away the other teams options, a more calculated and slower approach but not a full on trap that still has a forward in trying to disrupt things. I think this has helped the Flyers game and we’ll see what changes they continue to make.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Team Store!

Photo Credit: PhiladelphiaFlyers.NHL.com

This year I decided to keep count of how and where goals are being scored during Flyers games. I’m trying to find trends and see where the team could improve at or find areas the team is doing well at. Here’s a list of everything I’m keeping track of for goals this season:

• Goals off dump ins
• Goals off skate in zone entries
• Goals off face-offs
• Goals off the rush
• Goals off deflections
• Goals deflected off own team
• Goals off rebounds
• Goals that were either one timed / one touched or were controlled shots
• Location of where goals were scored
• Location of previous pass before a goal was scored

Here’s what I use to determine where on the ice goals and passes come from:

  The Flyers have had their ups and more recently their downs scoring goals as of late, whereas They’ve been pretty strong keeping the puck out of their own net in large part due to Hart and Jones. Let’s compare how the Flyers have scored their own goals and how they’re getting scored on through the first 13 games.

(Everything shown is at even strength only)

Goal styles

• Goals for – 24 – 26.38 expected goals

9 – 37.5% of goals have been scored off the rush

8 – 33.3 % of goals have been scored off cycles from dump ins

6 – 25% of goals have been scored off cycles from skating the puck into the zone

1 – 4.1% of goals have been scored off cycles from a face-off in the offensive zone

• Goals against – 22 – 31.98 expected goals against

11 – 50%% of goals have been scored off cycles from sliding the puck into the zone

5 – 22.7% of goals have been scored off the rush

4 – 18.1% of goals have been scored off cycles from dump ins

2 – 9% of goals have been scored off a cycles from a faceoff in the offensive zone

From a goal scoring perspective the Flyers obviously weren’t going to carry their pace from the first 5 games of the season, but in recent games they’ve completely crashed at both even strength and on the power play. In the beginning of the season the Flyers were scoring goals from off the rush, goals off dump-ins, and the team was riding off a few goal scoring streaks such as Atkinson’s. Cam Atkinson wasn’t going to score every single game he was expected to cool off but I think I found a possible reason why the teams rush and goals off dump-ins have stopped working. I’ve noticed a big uptick in turnovers from the Flyers defense and the team looks a lot slower exiting out of the zone and moving the puck up one. In the first 5 games of the season the Flyers defense averaged 20.8 breakouts per game, in the last 8 games they’ve averaged 17.8 breakouts per game, (breakouts are a tracked stat of mine measuring a defenseman’s puck moving ability). It might not entirely be the forwards fault for not scoring when the defense isn’t moving the puck up to the forwards quite as much as they once were.

To further this for rush goals in the first 5 games the Flyers defense was averaging 10.2 long pass breakouts per game, in the last 8 games they’ve averaged only 6. Possibly a reason for less rush goals is because the defense isn’t moving the puck out as well as they were before, or maybe the forwards aren’t exiting with as much speed to give their defense the chances to get the puck up ice, maybe it’s a combination of both. The Flyers are getting nearly doubled in terms of cycle goals from skate ins. I think being a heavy dump-in team has hurt the Flyers so far this season. It hasn’t resulted in goals as of late and I think they’re wasting a lot of their own possession by giving it to the other team. Over the last few games it hasn’t been used quite as much but it still seems like their go to. From what I’ve seen I’ve liked what I saw when the Flyers forwards try to use passes in the neutral zone and at the other teams blue line to get into the offensive zone, that‘s something I’d like to see them try more in the coming games.

As for goals against I’d like to go back to the teams transition game, as the defense has turned the puck over slightly more often as they were before it’s resulted in less possession time and more offensive chances for the opposition. Hart and Jones have bailed out the team multiple times this season which is great to see but overall the Flyers defense is giving up way too much and has to improve. They have to start winning their battles more often, start being stronger in front, and start being smarter with the puck if they don’t want their goalies to have to win them games so often. 

Now here’s the locations of where goals have been scored so far at even strength:

As I just mentioned previously I would like to see the Flyers be better and stronger at defending the front of the net. 36.3% of Flyers goals against this year have been from either rebounds in the low slot or controlled shots against in the low slot. As for when the Flyers are scoring they’ve been a little bit more spread out on the ice but favoring the right side of the ice more often. 

Some extra stats to finish up on

• Flyers goals:

Off of rebounds – 5

Deflected from Flyer player – 1

Deflected off other teams player – 2

From one timers / one touch shots – 17

From shots with controlled possession – 7

• Flyers goals against:

Off of rebounds – 5

Deflected off other teams player – 3

Deflected off Flyer player – 1

From one timers / one touch shots – 17

From shots with controlled possession – 5

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Team Store!

Photo Credit: Katelynn Reiss

Coming off of a tough loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Flyers faced another tough team in the Carolina Hurricanes. A team that is doing nothing but winning, and playing great hockey. Nonetheless, the Flyers prevailed behind a great game from Carter Hart, and some big goals by Joel Farabee and Zack MacEwen. Let’s get into it.

Zack-Attack scores his first

It wasn’t a pretty one, but Zach MacEwen gets his first goal as a Flyer. A goal that turned out to be the game winning goal, and a statement goal for sure. Just shows the difference in depth with this team, and last years. Flyer and Ice podcast host Dan Green says this about the goal, “To me the Zach MacEwen goal officially turns the corner from last year’s team, and this team is headed in a better direction.” Great quote from a great host. Be sure to check out Dan Green’s podcast, “Flyer and Ice podcast” on twitter. 

The REAL Carter Hart

Getting the big win for a goalie is a statement. Carter Hart comes out after a disappointing loss and seals a huge win. Facing 40 shots and saving 39 of them. Coming up with huge saves throughout the late minutes of the third period. This was the biggest win of the year for Carter Hart, I think he is motivated behind a solid defense. He is now excelling in his game to max potential.

Carter Hart never takes any credit for how he played:

“It’s a huge 2 points for us.”

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it

Photo Credit: Amedeo Grassia

After a few days off, the Flyers were back in action at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs bring with them a familiar face, Philly’s beloved Wayne Simmonds. The game was more than just a “Welcome Home”, it was a game where two teams were very close in points. The Flyers did not show much as they lost 3-0. Few things certainly stick out to me, let’s get into it. 

No “Power” to this power play…at all

I am just going to continue to sound like i’ am on repeat, but maybe people will finally understand. The power play is awful, there is just no easy way to put it. Another night where they go 0-4 with the man advantage. The special teams of late have been pitiful, and change is needed. I believe Cam Atkinson needs to go back to the second line of the PP. He brings a shooter’s mentality to the unit. I am not a coach, but I have played the game for almost two decades. The power play is the difference between a dominant record and a decent record. 

“There were some adjustments that we tried to make in-game tonight on our power play. They didn’t work out. We’ll take the time here to analyze a few things.” – Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said

Braun > Sanheim- It’s been proven

Travis Sanheim has struggled this year. He is listed as an “offensive defenseman”. Well, I am waiting for that offense to start. Tonight, he racked up 22:35, a -1, two shots, a hit, and a blocked shot. Decent numbers, I guess, not the numbers he is being paid for. Justin Braun, on the other hand is having one of his best years yet. It helps to play with a young Ivan Provorov, but he has really come into his own as a solid defenseman. Tonight, he registered 17:41 of ice time, a -2, and a team high seven blocked shots.  Braun really playing at a high level right now without the services of Ryan Ellis.

The Wayne Train Returns

After a few seasons, Wayne Simmonds made his return back to Philadelphia. Wayne Simmonds is still beloved here in Philly, and it’s obvious. Simmonds racked up one shot, three hits, and 12:48 of ice time. Best of luck the rest of the way Simmer.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Team Store!

At the end of the day there was no love lost after losing to Simmonds, “We’re chasing the game,” Sean Couturier said following the game. “It was tight out there, not really much both ways. We gotta find a way to win those games.”

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Photo Credit: Amedeo Grassia

After a few days off, the Flyers were back in action at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs bring with them a familiar face, Philly’s beloved Wayne Simmonds. The game was more than just a “Welcome Home”, it was a game where two teams were very close in points. The Flyers did not show much as they lost 3-0. Few things certainly stick out to me, let’s get into it. 

No “Power” to this power play…at all

I am just going to continue to sound like i’ am on repeat, but maybe people will finally understand. The power play is awful, there is just no easy way to put it. Another night where they go 0-4 with the man advantage. The special teams of late have been pitiful, and change is needed. I believe Cam Atkinson needs to go back to the second line of the PP. He brings a shooter’s mentality to the unit. I am not a coach, but I have played the game for almost two decades. The power play is the difference between a dominant record and a decent record. 

“There were some adjustments that we tried to make in-game tonight on our power play. They didn’t work out. We’ll take the time here to analyze a few things.” – Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said

Braun > Sanheim- It’s been proven

Travis Sanheim has struggled this year. He is listed as an “offensive defenseman”. Well, I am waiting for that offense to start. Tonight, he racked up 22:35, a -1, two shots, a hit, and a blocked shot. Decent numbers, I guess, not the numbers he is being paid for. Justin Braun, on the other hand is having one of his best years yet. It helps to play with a young Ivan Provorov, but he has really come into his own as a solid defenseman. Tonight, he registered 17:41 of ice time, a -2, and a team high seven blocked shots.  Braun really playing at a high level right now without the services of Ryan Ellis.

The Wayne Train Returns

After a few seasons, Wayne Simmonds made his return back to Philadelphia. Wayne Simmonds is still beloved here in Philly, and it’s obvious. Simmonds racked up one shot, three hits, and 12:48 of ice time. Best of luck the rest of the way Simmer.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Team Store!

At the end of the day there was no love lost after losing to Simmonds, “We’re chasing the game,” Sean Couturier said following the game. “It was tight out there, not really much both ways. We gotta find a way to win those games.”

That’s my story and i’m sticking to it!

Photo Credit: Frankie Steskal

The Battle of Pennsylvania starts in Pittsburgh, where the Flyers have had great success since the opening of the new arena. It’s crazy to think that the Penguins came into the game without their coach, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and a few more players. The Flyers could absolutely have made it a statement victory against their rival, but that wasn’t the case. Let’s dive into the important takeaways from the 3-2 overtime loss that the Flyers were handed. 

Carter Hart back to form

One thing we can say, this loss does not fall on the hands of Carter Hart. Saving 33 shots out of 36 that he faced, and a majority of them were key saves. The Penguins came out firing on all cylinders, and really had some quality chances. A much better Flyers team allowed 36 shots and Carter Hart played a top tier game. Some people out there still believe that he is not the franchise goalie. I think it’s time for them to move on from that, as Carter Hart continued his stellar play this season.

“A game of hitting”

Typically in rival games such as this one, both teams come out and are ready to throw the body around. That certainly was the case in tonight’s game where we saw the Flyers and Penguins combine for almost 59 hits. Sadly, the Penguins landed 39 of them, to the Flyers 20. A physical game at that, but the Flyers were being pushed around throughout this game and it showed. When playing these tough games, you want to show up and be physical, not saying the Flyers were not, but the Pens overpowered a pretty tough Flyers team.

A new look on the Power Play, a bad look in Overtime

For the second game in a row, we saw Cam Atkinson on the top unit for the power play, and I just am not a fan. You saw Claude Giroux and Ivan Provorov at the point, Travis Konecny in front of the net, Sean Couturier in the slot at times, and Atkinson covering the left circle.  The power play just looked lost. Now they did score with a great goal by Konecny, assisted by Provorov and Giroux, but I don’t understand the move at all by Alain Vigneault. Keep Atkinson playing where he was, believe it or not he was playing well. I believe some of the coaches’ decisions may have cost them this game. Even in the overtime, you saw Rasmus Ristolainen playing out there, why would you have a guy of size and strength playing a 3-on-3? You needed speed and finesse, someone who is going to be able to move the puck quick. I think Vigneault was a big part of this loss.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it

Photo Credit: Frankie Steskal

The Flyers are sitting at 4th place in the Metropolitan division with a record of 5-2-1. They have played impressive hockey with a lot of newcomers, veteran leadership, coupled with the resurgence of Claude Giroux, Carter Hart, and Travis Konecny. The pairing lines have been strong and don’t see much change coming to them, unless. 

Unless Flyers management starts to “warlock in” some of the players who have been shelved for the start of the season.  Only time will tell when they return, but let’s get into those players.

Wade Allison

The promising young Flyers forward had been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain when going into the boards against the New York Rangers rookie club. This all transpired in a rookie game that was played at Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey. Allison was going into his first full season as a full-time Flyer, and had so much potential. A player who was going to take a huge step forward. Video footage from Jordan Hall yesterday caught Allison skating for the first time and firing pucks at the net. He’s not scheduled to return until sometime in December, but this is great news for a player who has been through the rigor with injuries.

Kevin Hayes

What can we say, Kevin Hayes has not only been through an injury that has shelved him, he is also grieving over the loss of his brother, former Boston Bruin Jimmy Hayes.  With that, our prayers are with the Hayes family as always.  A top tier player for the Flyers is set to make his return soon enough. A scheduled time date of November 10th, which would be against the Toronto Maple Leafs, home in Philadelphia. We can only hope he returns and fills in quiet nicely to an already stellar lineup. 

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it

Photo Credit: Katelynn Reiss

When Chuck Fletcher started his offseason journey, he had a goal in mind. Other than dumping the contract of Jake Voracek, he needed to Solidify the defense, and get more help for Carter Hart in front of the net. He achieved these goals with players like Ryan Ellis and Rasmus Ristolainen. Then, when we thought his work was done, he surprisingly signed “Iron man” Keith Yandle to a one-year contract. 

Keith Yandle has played every game thus far, paired with Justin Braun, has played tremendously well.  In just three games into the season, nicknamed “Yands”, has recorded 5 assists and is logging 16 minutes a game with a +2 rating goal differential. Yandle has been playing at a high level in every game and has shown no sign of slowing down. The type of player and leader that Keith Yandle is is something the Flyers needed desperately, and with the new acquisition of a great defensive player, the Flyers have a team that can really go far in the season. Keith Yandle is proving every game why he is here and why he deserves to be here. Enough said.

Thats my story and i’m sticking to it!

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Team Store!

Photo Credit: Our very own Katelynn Reiss

For sometime now, Flyers forward Travis Konecny has struggled to get the puck in the back of the net. Going as far back as the 2019-2020 playoffs where he scored 0 goals and recorded just seven assists in 16 games. Those were not the numbers most fans expected from him when the team needed him the most. Moreover, last season he only recorded 11 goals and 23 assists in 50 games; it just wasn’t enough from a player who some saw as a future captain for this team. The worry was there, and it’s safe to say that even I was concerned. I was, in fact, quoted by many that the Flyers should package “TK” out of here and bring in a real goal scorer, someone they could count on. But then, just like that, the new 2021-2022 season began.

Travis Konecny has been placed on the 1st line pairings with Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier, and it seems to be doing the trick. Konecny has found the back of the net in all three games and even notched a few assists. Giroux is scoring early on as well, something that has been a struggle for the captain in recent seasons. He is playing at an incredible level and seems to be getting back to form, the one we all knew and loved. I couldn’t be happier for Travis Konecny. He is surprising a lot of people, including myself.

The young rising star in Konecny does a little bit of everything. He will chip in on the power play, lay a big hit, block shots, and most of all do anything to help the team win. He had a bit of a down year last year to say the least, but fortunately Konecny played much better in the latter parts of the season, and maybe that correlated to having a good start this season:

“You have to stay together and support each other and not get too far ahead. We talked, we supported each other and it helped us stay within our system and structure, and we were able to keep pressing for the majority of the game.” – Travis Konecny

Konecny’s successes hasn’t been easy, but nothing is in life. He just stuck with it and it’s paying dividends in his game right now, the team is benefiting from the fruits of Konecny’s patience of sticking with it. How long will this resurgence last? Will the spark die down and trade talks appear again? Only time will tell, but right now, let’s enjoy what Travis is bringing to the team. I have a good feeling about it for sure.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Photo Credit: Yariv Wolok

Claude Giroux and “TK” score again

The Captain keeps his scoring streak alive, and adds another goal to an early start of the season. Giroux has always been ridiculed for late starts to the season. He has two goals in as many games. Playing alongside “TK” and “Coots” has helped his game. Ironically, another first wing linemate also scores in Travis Konecny. Great goal scoring for the both of them, and they both have two goals a piece. 

“Playing with Hart” 

Carter gets the call again and plays a great game. He had an absolutely unbelievable save to keep the game at 0-0 in the first, before the floodgates open for the Flyers to a 5-0 lead. An issue the first game was positioning for Carter Hart, at least one soft goal was allowed. This game was a totally different story. Hart positioned himself very well and it showed, also with the defense in front of him. Playing for your goalie was the key statement here, and the Flyers defense and forwards did not disappoint. Hart finished with 24 saves on 25 shots with a .960 save percentage, great play by Hart and the team all around.

“Dropping the mitts”

Hard not to mention the toughness of the Flyers tonight. Flyers forward Nate Thompson drops the gloves and handles business tonight, while sticking up for the Captain Giroux:

“That guy went after our Captain, and we answered the bell.,” – Derick Brassard on Nate Thompson fighting Nathan Bastian, while sticking up for Claude Giroux

Thompson took it to Nathan Bastian, a fight that was bound to happen as both players had 10 minute misconducts in the second period. Heck of a fight for Thompson as he decked Bastian. Also, a defenseman, making the most of his playing time, Nick Seeler drops the gloves against a much bigger Jamie Oleksiak. Tough one for Seeler, but an “A” for effort. Great to see the Flyers stand up for each other and themselves.

The Flyers next game is on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins at 7:00 p.m. They are now 1-0-1 on this four game homestand.