Flyers

The Red Hot Flyers

Nathan Harding   |  

Dec 26, 2023

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No one expected the Flyers to be in the situation they are in. 33 games into the season the orange and black are 18-11-4. Currently sitting in 3rd place in the metropolitan division standings. 

Coming into the holiday break the Flyers had a nine-game points streak snapped in the punishment game against Nashville. Follower by an all-time classic in Detroit. Where the Flyers came back from a 5-1 after the first period to lose in a shootout 7-6. At the break they Flyers have a 65.4% chance to make the playoffs. Along with the fact that since the 16 team playoffs formate started in 1980 84.6% of teams in a playoff spot in Christmas make the playoffs at season’s end. As everything looks good now Philadelphia needs to keep an eye on their surroundings. As Washington and Carolina are only a game back while New Jersey is four points behind. And if the Flyers would fall to a wild card spot Tampa and Detroit are not far behind either. 

Coming out of the holiday break and into the new year the Flyers will face on of their biggest changes. A four-game road trip through the Pacific Northwest. A road trip happens every year during this time usually being either a trip to the Northwest like this year or to California like last year. This always happens because Disney On Ice takes over the Wells Fargo Center every year during the week between Christmas and New Years. 

This year’s trip to Western Canada and Seattle is unique. Vancouver, much like the Flyers, have surprised the league and have recently passed Vegas as the best team in the NHL. While both Edmonton and Calgary struggled out of the gate but have pulled themselves together to have a shot at a wild card spot at season’s end. While Seattle who is preparing to host this season’s Winter Classic is sandwiched between Calgary and Edmonton in the standings. While the teams the Flyers will be facing are not the strongest in the league a four-game road trip to the other side of the continent will always be taxing on a team no matter the skill level. If the Flyers can make it out of this trip without kissing ground in the playoff race, they will be setup in a good position at the mid-season mark.

DANA GAURUDER Associated Press

Categorized:Flyers