PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: An overall view of the arena is shown prior to the start of this afternoon's game featuring the Philadelphia Flyers against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 15, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Can the Flyers make a push for the playoffs? Overall yes, however, there is work that needs to be improved upon for the orange and black to have a shot at the post-season. First and foremost, they should not rely on other teams to help them make the playoffs, that’s a given, so here are three keys for a Post-Season birth for the Flyers.
Improve Play On The Road
The Flyers are a different team on the road, as opposed to the team that plays at the Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately, the Flyers own a 10-13-2 road record, and they still have 16 games left to play on the road. The Goaltending has been inconsistent on the road. For instance, Carter Hart owns a 2-9-1 road record, owns a 4.01 GAA, and a .850 Save Percentage on the road. However, Hart is lights out at home, as he is 13-2-2 at home this season.
Hart and Brian Elliott both have not made timely saves on the road, and they seem to struggle with their rebound control. In addition, the team defense hasn’t been very good in front of them either on the road. It’s not all on the Goaltenders shoulders, however, this problem of slow starts on the road this season, has plagued the Flyers organization for the past five to six years (to include home and away games). They have to figure it out for a Post-Season push.
Power Play
The Flyers have tried to become a consistent team in 2020. One way to do that was becoming a better team with the man advantage. They currently own the 18th best Power Play (PP), with a success rate of 19.5%. There is just way too much talent on the offensive side of the puck for the Flyers to be in the middle of the pack with the man advantage. At times, I’d rather see the Flyers be at full strength (5-on-5), as opposed to them having the man advantage. I’m pretty certain I’m not the only one thinking this, especially after a 6-on-3 man advantage that the Flyers failed to convert on in a game early in January.
Unfortunately, the Flyers cannot take the next step, until they figure out what’s wrong with the PP. If the Flyers want to make the playoffs, then the PP has to improve, it’s as simple as that. One solution to this!!! move Claude Giroux permanently to the left side of the PP. He has tallied 277 PP points since September 10, 2010, just keep him on the left side please Michel Therrien.
Claude Giroux
It’s no secret to anyone who follows the Flyers on a regular basis, that Claude Giroux is a vital part to the teams overall success. As Giroux goes, so do the orange and black. Giroux is the engine that runs the Flyers. Last year the Captain had another solid campaign, this year he has been streaky, and the lack of PP success is one reason for the dip in his numbers this season. Giroux (13g,22a) is currently on pace for a 60-67 point season, which is far lower than the 85 point total he posted in 2018-19.
Of course, Giroux will tell you he has to be better. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and always has been a team-first guy. However, if the Flyers want to make the playoffs, then they need their Captain to step up big-time in these last 32 games, even if he is interchanged from the left side of the PP to the right side. Look for Giroux to have a monster last 32 games of the season.
This team is too talented not to make the playoffs. Fortunately, two areas of the Flyers woes in previous season’s have been rectified, in Goaltending and the Penalty Kill. Both have actually been their strong suits this season, which is a blessing right. The Flyers have a foundation to make the playoffs, they just need to fine tune some parts to ensure it happens.
