There are 82 games in the regular season, HW will do a deeper pre-game dive into the matchups and storylines for the ones we have circled on our calendars.
PTSD is a real thing and Flyers fans are collectively experiencing it after while in a current five-game losing streak.
- Losing is brutal.
- Losing five-games in a row is depressing.
- Losing five-games in a row after last season is tragic for this fan base.
Anyone else feel like it is March all over again??
The Flyers (8-7-4) are heading into arguably the most important week of the season for several reasons – none more important than simply getting back in the “W” column against divisional opponents.
They failed against teams south of the Mason-Dixon last week but have a chance to head up the Turnpike against the Devils (8-6-4) who are the team directly ahead of the Flyers in the standings.
These are three Rivalry storylines for the Flyers/Devils Sunday night matchup:
DOUBLE DOWN
Sunday night against the Devils is the start of “must win” situations for the Flyers. Not only do they need points, but the need also to get the double-point conference swing that prevents the Devils from gaining any ground in the standings.
The Devils are a young, speedy, and talented team with a decent goaltender in McKenzie Blackwood. They are currently 23rd in the NHL for GF (Flyers are 28th… Yikes!) so there is some issue scoring – but they have also hung a seven-spot on the Panthers this season.
The Devils are having big issues on special teams – even more so than then Flyers – ranking 29th in in the league on the PP (13.5 %) and 22nd (79%) on the PK.
This is a rare occasion to date that Flyer should have an advantage on both ends of the special team’s battle.
If there was ever a time for the Flyers to break out of their PP woes, this is a great opportunity when the double-point swing is on the line.
BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAYS ENDING SOON??
Carolina tallied up six goals on Black Friday on Carter Hart and the Flyers. After a solid-first where the Flyers came away with a 2-1 lead, the Flyers decided that giveaways were a “thing” on Black Friday. 
16 Giveaways in one game.
Certainly, the most egregious was the beach-ball thrown up the middle from Nate Thompson that led to a Carolina goal – but there were plenty to go around besides that.
Can the Flyers fix that with Saturday’s practice session?
The overall confidence level that is lacking and leading to these turnovers needs to be raised if the Flyers hope to stay within striking distance of a wildcard spot at Christmas.
GAME PLAN – DO BETTER WITH LESS?
“It’s a challenging time, but everyone has to be better and that starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job of making sure guys perform to their level.” Coach Alain Vigneault doesn’t have a delusion that this Flyers team is playing well.
After a very optimistic off-season, the Flyers have seen an amazing rash of long-term injuries including:
- Kevin Hayes (2C)
- Ryan Ellis (1st Pairing D)
- Sam Morin (7th D)
- Derick Brassard (2/3 C)
- Wade Allison (Top 9 Winger)
- Reports from practice are hinting that 4C Nate Thompson could now be out as well
So, I guess we are down to one center on the team…
“Those are just excuses,” stated Captain Claude Giroux after the Carolina loss. Can this team overcome the odds and start piling up some points with less?
The first line is pulling their share – but the 2nd and 3rd lines are sub-par at best. JVR, Oskar, Cam, Laughts, time to step up and start playing like Flyers.
Big game. MUST WIN GAME. Sunday night at 7p.
Go Flyers!
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