With a 3-1-1 record on the season, the Philadelphia Flyers should be feeling pretty good about themselves. However, they have the toughest task of the season thus far in a trip to Sin City to face the undefeated Vegas Golden Knights, who boast a league-best 6-0-0 record. How can the Flyers pull off the upset against the defending Stanley Cup champions?
Continue Playing Hard
The main reason why the Flyers have a 3-1-1 record on the season and are soaring past their early expectations is because of their willingness to play hard and put everything they have on the ice each game. Against Vegas, they will need that and more.
If you are looking for a team that defines playing at their best for every single shift, look no further than the Golden Knights. They boast the best record in the NHL coming off of a Stanley Cup championship last season for a reason, which isn’t just defined by the immense talent and depth on their roster, but also by their compete level. The Flyers will have to be at their best to have any chance of winning.
As cliché as it might sound, the Flyers are winning because of their effort. The team might not have a true superstar on the roster, but they are still winning games. Sometimes the whole “give 110 percent” schtick gets old, but it will actually be meaningful for Philadelphia throughout the season, as they are heavily outmatched in terms of talent on paper. The Flyers’ skill might not match that of Vegas, but their effort absolutely can.
Improve 5-on-5 Finishing
It’s pretty rare when four out of the last six goals you have scored have come when you were on the penalty kill, but that has been a reality for the Flyers. Coming off of a game with three shorthanded goals against the Dallas Stars, the Flyers’ kill has been no concern. However, their finishing at 5-on-5 has been a bit of an issue recently.
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The Flyers have been great at possessing the puck at even strength so far this season, but that does not mean they are capitalizing on their chances. It’s at least a step in the right direction that they are sustaining offensive pressure, especially against elite teams. In order to win against one of the very best, they will have to improve on the finishing that they have had over their last few games.
In their first five games, the Flyers only have nine goals at even strength, a pace of just 1.8 per game. Vegas will punish Philadelphia if they continue to be ineffective at 5-on-5. The Flyers have shown that they can be a decent offensive team, it’s just about taking advantage of opportunities for them. They at least have something to build off of, which is promising.
Take Advantage of Vegas’ Defensive Injuries
With defenseman Zach Whitecloud on injured reserve coupled with Alex Pietrangelo being day-to-day, one of the Flyers’ few advantages in this game is the fact that the Golden Knights will not be at full strength entering the match. With them most likely being without both defenders, the Flyers will need to take advantage of a more inexperienced Vegas blue line than usual.
The Golden Knights are one of the deepest teams in the league defensively, but losing both Pietrangelo and Whitecloud wouldn’t be the best for them. Vegas is a great team in terms of their depth, but will be relying on fillers to make up for the absence of two very solid right-handed defenders.
The Flyers aren’t completely healthy themselves, but they certainly aren’t missing somebody of Pietrangelo’s caliber. A Vegas team without all of their regular roster players is still a deadly one, but it makes them just a tad bit more vulnerable for the Orange and Black.
Use Farabee, Cates, Brink Line Often
With two games consecutively of some great work offensively, the Flyers’ third line, which consists of Joel Farabee, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink, might be their best. It has been one of their only units scoring at even strength recently, so head coach John Tortorella might want to use it often.
The Flyers’ third line happens to be their youngest, with an average age of just 23. It has played with speed, controlled play, and not just generated offense, but finished on their chances as well. The trio has been dominant, so Tortorella should keep it together and play them frequently.
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Some of the youth on the roster have been taking a leap, which is excellent news for the Flyers. All three of them seem to play their best hockey when they are together. This is the best-case scenario for the Flyers, and is ideally what success looks like for a rebuilding team.
The Flyers have been sharp this season, but a win against Vegas would rightfully earn them some serious kudos. If they are even just competitive, they should be able to hang their heads high after this one.