Alright, so the Flyers have been out there for six periods, plus an overtime, and let’s be real, those first three periods against Pittsburgh? Forget ’em. Absolutely forget ’em. But Thursday night against New Jersey, things got a little different. They snagged a point thanks to Joseph Woll making a killer Philadelphia debut, just swallowing up shots and controlling those rebounds like a pro, making sure the Flyers didn’t walk away with nothing. Rasmus Ristolainen got the scoring going on a delayed penalty, and Travis Sanheim ripped a slap shot that Jake Allen had zero chance on for their second goal.
Early Season Struggles: Is Anyone Seeing This Offense?
But other than those flashes, what did we see? The Devils were running circles around them, looking like the Harlem Globetrotters out there. The Flyers offense? Man, they looked confused, perplexed, like the Washington Generals just trying to figure out what was happening. New Jersey absolutely crushed them five-on-five, hitting a miserable 31.78 Corsi For percentage. Yikes. And the power play? Let’s just hope that five-on-five game gets its act together first, shall we? I mean, with 82 games still to go, they’ve got time to sort things out. They’ve got a point in the standings now, and hey, they did prove they *can* score. That’s a start, right?
The Injured Forward Who Could Flip the Script
Here’s the kicker, though: one forward hasn’t even hit the ice for these two games, and he might be way more important than anyone thought. It’s kinda wild considering he’s only played 53 total regular season and playoff games for the club. But Denver Barkey, this kid could seriously be the missing piece, that crucial cog in the wheel the Flyers are just desperately lacking early in this 2026-27 season. Barkey got dinged up in an exhibition game against the Capitals. He was favoring something after a hit in the first period, came back for a quick shift in the second, then that was it, down the hallway to the locker room. They put him on injured reserve to start the season, but he’s not expected to be out for an extended period. And honestly, being cautious with a 21-year-old promising forward who could be a center, that’s smart. No need to rush him back and pay for it later.
Think back to last season. When Denver Barkey laced up for his first NHL game just before Christmas in 2025, it was a pleasant surprise. GM Danny Briere took a shot on a youngster, bringing some fresh air and a kid who was hungry to prove himself, even if it was just for a game or two. At least that was the initial thought. Then Barkey goes and puts up two assists in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Rangers in his debut. Even though he went pointless for the next handful of games, the dude was a buzzsaw. He was winning puck battles against guys way bigger than him, using his high hockey IQ to make plays, and just contributing everywhere. Those “handful of games” turned into the rest of the season. And get this: Philadelphia’s record with Barkey in the lineup? A solid 21-16-6.
So, with all that in mind, the Flyers have shown they can get a point, they can score. What’s next for them as they navigate the early part of this season? You gotta look for that spark, that moment when Barkey is back on the ice, making a difference. Keep an eye out for his return, because if history tells us anything, he brings a serious winning vibe.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Broad Street Hockey.
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