Just one week into the new NHL season, the Philadelphia Flyers are staring down an ugly 0-2-2 record, making them one of three teams still searching for their first win. This is a brutal start, especially for a team that made a “magical run” to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Talk about a face-plant after all that build-up, right? They opened the season getting absolutely shelled, a 7-0 loss to their rival Pittsburgh Penguins, and head coach Rick Tocchet didn’t mince words, calling his team’s play “disturbing.” You’d think that rock-bottom moment would kickstart something, but nope. The bleeding hasn’t stopped, and it’s making everyone question what’s going on in Philly.
Underlying Numbers Are Screaming for Help
It’s not just the win-loss column looking rough, either. The advanced stats are even more concerning. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers’ five-on-five expected goals share is a pathetic 26.0%, which is dead last in the entire NHL. Their 4.57 expected goals against per 60 minutes also ranks last. And their 1.94 expected goals for per 60 minutes? Yep, you guessed it, last in the league. These aren’t just bad numbers, these are “what is even happening” numbers. This team came into the season with serious, “well-earned optimism,” especially after rookie Porter Martone broke out with six goals and nine assists in 19 games between the regular season and playoffs last year. That kind of talent should be driving better results, but right now, it feels completely buried under this early season disaster.
Can Philly Still Turn This Thing Around?
Look, there are still 80 games left in the season for the Flyers to find their game and restore that optimism. The season is long, and every team has its ups and downs. But to say this has been a discouraging start is a massive understatement. The way they’re losing, combined with the underlying metrics, it’s not just a slump; it feels like something is fundamentally broken right now. They’ve got a lot of work to do, and fast, if they want to get back to anything resembling that playoff magic from last year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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