Is The Flyers Hot Start Real or Not?

If a fan of the Philadelphia Flyers was told at the start of the season that the team would be above .500 through six games, the response would be one of shock. This is, after all, a rebuilding team. The Flyers were expected to take a step forward but weren’t expected to be good. 

They’ve gone 3-2-1 and not only won some games but have beaten good competition in the process. The Flyers forced the Carolina Hurricanes into overtime and beat the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Seattle Kraken on their home ice. These are playoff-caliber teams, and their two losses were against great teams as well, for what it’s worth. 

It leaves everyone wondering whether the Flyers are good or not. Are they a force to be reckoned with and a sleeper in the Metropolitan Division? The hot start has provided plenty of optimism, especially considering where the team has stepped up. 

A Flyers Team Built From The Net Out 

The crazy thing is how goaltending has become a strength. The Flyers have gotten great play from Dan Vladar, who has a .929 save percentage (SV%) and a 1.75 goals-against average (GAA) on 99 shots. The journeyman back is now the start, and he’s taken that role in stride. 

His impact has changed everything for the Flyers. It’s given the defense more confidence, and the Flyers can play more aggressively without worrying about the consequences. The liability that the position was last season was demoralizing for the team, and now, they can defend without the fear of any shot resulting in a goal. Vladar is a big goaltender who makes that first stop, and it’s changed how the team defends in front of him. 

Vladar is the primary starter now. He’s the one the Flyers will lean on. Whether he can carry them with a bigger workload is unknown. Vladar has started 29 games or more once in his career, and asking him to start 50-plus is a tall task. Likewise, Samuel Ersson still must prove he can fill in as a backup, something he has yet to do. That said, the goaltending is a stretch, and it’s helped the defense look great as well. 

The Offense is Hitting Its Stride 

The win against the Kraken was a showcase for the offense. When this group is clicking, it’s a tough one to stop. The five-goal output saw everyone deliver from Owen Tippett to Matvei Michkov to Trevor Zegras. Noah Cates has three goals and two assists and found the back of the net in the recent game as well.