The Philadelphia Flyers are flatlining right out of the gate, sitting at a brutal 0-1-2 record through their first three games and saddled with the league’s second-worst goal differential at a mind-numbing minus-9. They’ve only snagged two points so far, putting them in a nine-way tie in the Eastern Conference, with most of those other teams having played fewer games. Honestly, they probably didn’t even deserve those two points.
What in the World Is Happening Out There?
This early season for the Flyers has been an absolute slog, no two ways about it. We’re talking arduous at best. The blueline has scored as many times as the forwards, which just tells you how off the offense is right now. Head coach Rick Tocchet didn’t mince words after practice Sunday, saying, “I mean if this is a trend, we’re obviously not trending in the right direction the last three games.” He pointed out the obvious, “We’re getting outshot two to one, not getting shots.” The coach added that despite each game having a different story, the core problem is the same: “our execution’s been off, we’re not getting any speed through the middle of the ice. One-on-one battles, let’s face it, it’s probably 70 per cent to our 30.” That’s a stark admission, especially early in the season, and Tocchet knows they “have to improve on” these things for the team’s identity to even begin to form.
Joseph Woll: The One Bright Spot in the Gloom
Amidst all the struggles, there’s been one guy absolutely standing on his head, and that’s goalie Joseph Woll. Acquired in a trade with Toronto that also brought Simon Benoit to town and sent Sam Ersson and Emil Andrae packing, Woll has been nothing short of a revelation in his two games. This dude has faced a ridiculous 84 shots in those two appearances, averaging 42 shots per game. That’s the highest total of any goaltender in the league right now! He’s faced 20 more shots than Chicago’s Spencer Knight, who is second in the NHL, and he’s played the second-most amount of time this year, just 55 seconds shy of San Jose’s Yaroslav Askarov.
Even though he’s given up six goals on those 84 shots for a .929 save percentage, Woll has been the team’s most valuable player by a country mile. His rebound control is dialed in, and his compete level is through the roof. He’s deserved a much better fate than two overtime losses, and honestly, he’s the only reason the Flyers have any points at all.
So, where do the Flyers go from here? The early trends are screaming for a turnaround, and fast. The team desperately needs to find some execution, speed through the middle, and win some one-on-one battles. If they don’t, Woll’s heroics might be the only thing keeping them from the absolute bottom.
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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