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As the Philadelphia Flyers approach (American) Thanksgiving, they’ve become synonymous for two things: resiliency and playing plenty of extra hockey.
Following their 6-5 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues on Friday, the Flyers (9-5-3) authored their league seventh comeback win of the season. Philadelphia has also played in seven overtime games (out of 17 total games). More than half of their wins for the season have come via overtime or the shootout (5-0-3).
The Positives
Accordingly, there are positives to the Flyers ability to come from behind or overcoming slow starts. It breeds collectie team wide confidence that they are never out of games. The Flyers current structure of not having a set go-to top line means that opposing teams have difficulty in keying into a unit. Such an example occurred in the Blues game with Christian Dvorak’s newly assembled line with Trevor Zegras and Owen Tippett.
Their line was able to carry the offensive load at a time when they needed it most, as Tippett finished with a goal and three assists, while Dvorak and Zegras each had two goals and three points. This has come on the heels of games where their other lines have contributed, such as the Noah Cates’ line with Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster and Sean Couturier’s line with Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny.
Additionally, the team’s relative success in overtime and the shootout has build the idea that the team can compete in the extra session. Even against teams like the Edmonton Oilers, they were able to keep things close in regulation and nearly won late in regulation. But there has also been this sense that they have played overtime in a cautious, calculated manner. Seemingly to get through the overtime period to the shootout where they are 4-0 this season.
Of course, it certainly helps to have a trump card like Zegras, who is the NHL’s all time leader with 16 goals in 24 career shootout attempts.
The Potential Drawbacks
Arguably, the biggest concern that comes from having to play from behind or adding additional periods of hockey is the “wear and tear” aspect. The energy levels required to maintain and manage these type of scenarios is not optimal from a long-term, full season load management perspective.
Consequently, the Flyers have played in quite a few one goal games, which puts them on the bleeding edge of results. They have a good record due to a combination of overall improved team defense execution and strong goaltending (coming predominantly from Daniel Vladar). In addition, they have drastically cut high-danger chances and goals by the opposition, compared to last season.
All in all, the Flyers have played well defensively. Rick Tocchet’s Box-Plus-One system is technically being executed as the Flyers have been able to keep opposition shots to the perimeter.
But they’ve also struggled to generate consistent offense at even strength as they are among the bottom dwellers in the NHL in that category. A major part of that has been lines other than Cates’ unit getting consistent forechecking each game. They’ve also struggled consistently getting to the middle of the ice, or “the hard ice,” as Tocchet has called it.
Without that, the Flyers are forced into being a perimeter team or relying on the rush, an area where their numbers are down this season.
Additionally, of all the teams currently in playoff position, the Flyers have the lowest number in Regulation or Overtime Wins with five so far. Every team behind them in the standings with the exception of the last place Buffalo Sabres have at least eight.
3 Takeaways, Powered by Phans Of Philly
Penalty Killing Remains Elite, Power-Play Emerging
The Flyers’ penalty kill has been exceptional so far this season. Overall, through 16 games, the penalty kill ranks second in the NHL at 88.7 percent success.
Assistant coach Todd Reirden’s units have been pretty consistent, with Couturier and Dvorak being paired with Cam York and Travis Sanheim, while the second unit has Cates working with Garnet Hathaway, along with defenseman Nick Seeler and Noah Juulsen.
Interestingly, despite running a power-kill concept, they still haven’t scored a shorthanded goal this season.
Conversely, considering how the Flyers power-play has been a unit that has hovered near the bottom of the NHL for several seasons, the fact that their power-play is now in the middle of the league at 20.4 percent (15th in the league) is a more measured aspect of progress.
At the same time, it is yet another area where the Zegras acquisition has paid dividends, as 10 of his team leading 19 points have come from the man-advantage.
Ersson’s Struggles
As good as Vladar has been in net, Sam Ersson’s 2025-26 season is beginning to raise alarm bells. The Swedish goalie has a 3.30 goals against average and an .846 save percentage.
Against the Blues, Ersson seemed to play a reactive style. Rather than looking for them at their release point, he seemed to be hoping for shots to hit him. Of the five goals he gave up, three were stoppable. While the Flyers were able to navigate his struggles, it’s been part of a difficult season for Ersson, whose contract is up this summer.
If the Flyers can’t reliable goaltending from their back-up position, that could also set up potential over-use issues for Vladar. The Czech goalie has never started more than 30 games in his career.
Is it possible that if Ersson continues to struggle, do the Flyers look to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ Aleksei Kolosov (2.57 GAA, .919 save percentage) as an option? Do they look outside the organization?
Andrae Solidifying Roster Spot
The Flyers have benefitted from the positive development of Cam York and Jamie Drysdale this season. Both have been excellent in helping the Flyers with their transitional play, defensive zone coverage, and power-play point work.
But they may have hit on a pretty good option beyond hem with Emil Andrae. His ability to move the puck allows them to have a puck rushing element on their third pairing.
Against the Blues, he had his first multi-point game in the NHL with two assists and a career high +4 plus-minus.
