We have to admit it, we did not think that they were going to do this either.
To start their brand new 2023-24 regular season, the Philadelphia Flyers actually look like a good and solid hockey team. Nothing they could have said or done during the preseason could have prepared us to watch some enjoyable hockey and begin to somewhat root for actual points to be earned. We were doubters and assumed that we would suffer through another Flyers season (we probably will end up suffering but they can hopefully prolong that as much as possible) but now we actually have some joy coming from being fans of this team.
Regardless of this switch, Flyers players knew that they were going to be doubted and not projected to be anything better than last year. This has formed a little chip on their shoulder as they are 3-1-1 through their first five and aren’t really giving up.
“Right from the start of camp, no one has really credited us with anything,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said after the overtime loss in Dallas. “We’re just working hard, coming to the rink every day, trying to get better and working as a group. Things are going well so far and we’re going to continue to stick with it, and try to prove people wrong.”
And the Flyers really are proving people wrong through these first handful of games. While the game is 5-on-5, Philadelphia has the NHL’s 12th-highest shot attempt percentage (51.69) and is standing tall with the sixth-best expected goals percentage (55.42), according to Natural Stat Trick. They have been the better team for the majority of the time through this stretch of games and considering that this team has already faced some Cup-favorites like the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers, they have been tested and won those tests.
We will just have to see how they fare against the reigning champions on Tuesday as they visit the Vegas Golden Knights, but overall, it will be tough not to be bullish about this team right now. And some guys, like Owen Tippett, haven’t even started their hot streak yet.
Maybe it is the vibe of the Phillies seeping through, but it feels pretty fun to watch this team right now.
