• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers’ Offense Carrying the Load

By Glen Stricker November 9th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

If one thing is for certain after the first 13 games into the 2016-17 season is that the Philadelphia Flyers’ offense, currently ranked second in the NHL in total goals, is the team’s bread and butter. Led by superstars Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, the Flyers offense has been a force to be reckoned with in the early goings of the season and because of their depth at forward, this should be a trend that should continue throughout the year.

Top 5 Goals scored
1 @NYRangers 50
2 @NHLFlyers 47
3 @NHLBlackhawks 46
4 @EdmontonOilers 40
5 @TBLightning 40

— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) November 7, 2016

Bounceback Seasons

So what is the cause of this newly transpired offense that the Flyers have been displaying to start their season? After all, they finished 22nd in goals scored last year, so what gives? For starters having a healthy Giroux and Voracek certainly, makes things easier. Last year Giroux played his way through hip and abdominal injuries from the second half of the season on, whereas every time Voracek seemed to be turning a corner and getting his game back he would be suddenly hampered by another injury.

Voracek is returning to the elite form he showed in the 2014-15 season. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Voracek is returning to the elite form he showed in the 2014-15 season. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Yet despite Giroux’s issues, he still finished the season leading the team in points with 67, however, it was his lowest point total (2012-13 lockout excluded) since his second season in the league way back in 2009-10. As for Voracek, last year he was coming off a breakout season in which he led the league in points for much of 2014-15, ultimately finishing fourth in NHL with 81 points. Expectations were extremely high on Voracek to repeat that success for perhaps the first time in his career. Expectations coupled with a riddle of injuries led to Voracek’s 2015-16 to be less than desirable.

Fast forward to now, both superstars are playing back up to their normal standards and in doing so, the Flyers offense is balanced and potent. With both playing healthy and confident, the Flyers have two lines anchored by elite playmakers that give opponents’ defenses headaches in the matchup department.

The Defense: Engage!

Another element that makes the Flyers’ offense extremely hard to play against is how active their defensemen are in the offensive zone. This dimension is what makes Dave Hakstol’s system so significant. Hakstol’s system, when played the right way, has all five players on the ice working in unison, with the defense actively engaging in puck support in all three zones.

Mark Streit is part of an active defense for the Flyers this year with already 9 points in 13 games. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Streit is part of an active defense for the Flyers with 9 points in 13 games. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Hakstol’s system is best suited with athletic and mobile defenseman that can move the puck up ice and out of the defensive zone as quickly as possible, and once the puck is out of their own zone, to support it and pinch into the play when the opportunity presents itself.

With Shayne Gostisbehere, Michael Del Zotto, and Ivan Provorov, Hakstol is starting to get the horses in his stable that brings out the best in his scheme. Even players like Radko Gudas and Brandon Manning are deeming themselves valuable contributors in his system. Both players play an aggressive and mobile brand of hockey that fits well with the puck support mentality of the scheme.

Brandon Manning continues to be good at hockey with this fantastic stretch pass pic.twitter.com/IITdyzutYi

— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) November 3, 2016

Team Chemistry

The Manning & Gudas pairing has been a go to for Hakstol this season. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Manning/Gudas pairing has been a go to for Hakstol. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Probably one of the biggest assets the Flyers had coming into this season was the familiarity of the players entering into Hakstol’s second season as head coach. Last year it took the team a few months to learn the new system, schemes, and tendencies Hakstol was employing.

Players need to be reacting and using their instincts when on the ice, not thinking about schematics and where other players have to be. This is why the Flyers had success from the second half on of last year, players were buying into what Hakstol was selling them and the system became second nature.

Now that Hakstol is starting to get the offense where he wants it to be and the defense beginning to get healthy, the Flyers just need their goaltending to start to come around. Last season goaltending was a major asset to their success and Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth have gotten off to shaky starts early on so far. However, once they come around to their normal levels of play, the Flyers could potentially be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern conference.

The Flyers have scored 4 goals in 4 straight (5 if you include SO). The offense is there, but the defense and goaltending is questionable.

— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) November 3, 2016

  • Tags
  • Claude Giroux
  • Dave Hakstol
  • Jakub Voracek
  • Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 18th 5:55 PM
Other Leagues

Ducks Will Benefit From Gulls’ Temporary Relocation to Irvine

Jan 18th 5:45 PM
Minnesota Wild

Wild Weekly: A Pair Of Comeback Wins Against The Kings

Jan 18th 5:10 PM
Column

Canucks News & Rumors: Edler, Hughes, Miller, Benn & Höglander

Jan 18th 4:35 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues Need Hoffman on Top Power Play Unit

Jan 18th 3:55 PM
Other Leagues

Windsor Spitfires’ 2010 Grubauer Trade Cemented OHL Dynasty

Jan 18th 3:45 PM
Archives

The Strangest Superstitions in NHL History

Jan 18th 3:35 PM
Florida Panthers

Newest Panthers Make Their Mark in the Season Opener

Jan 18th 3:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Robertson, Caufield, Clarke & Harrison

Jan 18th 3:10 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Yamamoto, Kahun, Bear, Goalie News, More

Jan 18th 3:00 PM
Column

Flyers Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Konecny, Hart, Voracek & More

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information