Five Flyers Observations : Fletcher Era Off To Bad Start

The Chuck Fletcher era in Philadelphia is off and running. Well, it has started. But, certainly not running yet. The Flyers dropped game one with Fletcher as the lead of the Flyers organization. A struggling Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center, 4-3.

A 3rd period comeback was halted by Seth Jones game winner, his 2nd of the night, just 10 seconds into over-time.

 

Travis Sanheim brought the Flyers back from 3-1 down with his first two goals of the season. Sanheim scored twice in a span of 2:05 just over midway through the 3rd period.

 

Anthony Stolarz kept the Flyers in the game for the first two periods. However, Stolarz allowed 2 goals on his final 4 shots faced in the losing effort.

 

Here are 4 more observations from the Flyers 4-3 OT Loss to the Blue Jackets…

Penalty Kill Shining

 

Something that has been an issue all year for the Flyers has been their penalty kill. However, as of late, the penalty kill is the only thing going right for the Flyers right now.

 

After giving up 3 power-play goals to the Tampa Bay Lightning back on 11/17, the Flyers penalty kill is 14 of 15. Including killing off the last 14 straight power-play opportunities.

 

Whether it has been better positioning or more pressure, the Flyers penalty kill just looks better. The units are more aggressive and have been taking away more shooting lanes.

Travis Sanheim Coming Out Party

 

Travis Sanheim had 2 career goals coming into tonight. Sanheim left tonight with 4 career goals. 

 

After going 31 straight games, dating back to last season, without a goal, Sanheim doubled his career total with 2 goals tonight. Even more impressive was when they came.

 

With the Flyers in need of a 3rd period spark, Sanheim answered the bell. Sanheim scored his two goals tonight in a span of 2:05. (7:36-5:31) His first two of the season couldn’t have came at a better time for the Flyers.

No Help For The 1st Line

 

To start the season last year, the Flyers 1st line, Giroux-Couturier-Voracek, carried the team until about Thanksgiving. During that period, the Flyers went a 3-week period where no Flyers forward other than those three scored a goal.

 

This season, the Flyers 1st line, Giroux-Couturier-Konecny, seems to be doing the exact same thing. Night in and night out, the Flyers 1st line has kept them in games.

 

Whether a change needs to be made, just like last season, or new energy needs to come into the Flyers bottom 3 lines, the secondary Flyers scoring needs to show up in a hurry.

Power-Play Has Gone MIA

 

The once feared Philadelphia Flyers power-play unit has now gone missing. Just showing 11 goals coming into tonight, the Flyers power-play went 0 for 3 against the Blue Jackets Thursday night.

 

For the season, the Flyers power-play is 11 for 76 (14.5%). That is 29th in the league. If you take out the multiple score games for the Flyers power-play, they are just 4 for 58 (6.9%).

 

Whether it is too much power-play talent or just a change of scheme, the Flyers power-play has gone backwards fast. Just 4 years ago, the last year before Dave Hakstol arrived, the Flyers power-play was 3rd in the league.

 

The best the Flyers power-play has been under Dave Hakstol is T-11th in his 1st season behind the Flyers bench. See the problem?

Result : Flyers 3 – Blue Jackets 4, OT LOSS

Record : 11 – 12 – 3

Next Game : 12/8 Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo NY, NBCSports Philadelphia 1:00pm