By now the Flyers have three of four games from the West Coast out of the way and just the Seattle tilt (another late start for those watching/streaming/listening) remaining before they head back east. A number of questions beginning with Jett Luchanko, the Flyers power play and their goaltending will really not have many answers but hopefully not more questions three games in. Here then is what’s in store for the latter half of October, including the month-ending game against the Blues on Halloween.
Flyers vs. Kraken, Thursday Oct. 17, 10 p.m. Eastern, Climate Pledge Arena
The last of the West Coast games is a stop in Seattle against the Dave Hakstol-coached, oops, nevermind. Although it’s a small sample size three games in, ideally there are some signs of life when it comes to a power play that this early in might not be in the basement in terms of rankings. Through their first two games the Flyers had two power play goals. Some chemistry between Michkov and those on the first unit and possibly Jett Luchanko included in the second unit should be developing. And maybe Sean Couturier, who before the season didn’t look it to be in the mix for both units before the season opener, might be part of it also at some point. The Flyers have played six games against the Kraken all time, winning three and losing three. They are one for three at Climate Pledge Arena with their only win coming after the Christmas break in 2021, a 3-2 win that saw them score a power play goal.
The Kraken come in with a new coach after Dave Hakstol was fired this past April and opened the season with a 3-2 loss at home against the Blues on Oct. 8 at a ridiculous start time (1:30 p.m. local time) which was part of the NHL’s triple-header. They also have the league’s first female assistant coach in Jessica Campbell. Seattle’s big moves this offseason were signing Brendan Montour and Chandler Stephenson both to seven-year deals. With the number of talented teams and contenders coming out of the West the Kraken will probably be life and death to make the playoffs. With any luck the Flyers don’t help them by losing two points.
Canucks vs. Flyers, Saturday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. Eastern, Wells Fargo Center
Getting a late night flight out of Seattle to arrive sometime Friday morning in Philadelphia might be taxing for a Flyers team looking to impress in their first home game roughly 36 hours later. But the schedule is the schedule and there’s not much you can do about it. It will also be the first time Flyers fans get to see Michkov and Luchanko in the flesh for a regular season game at Wells Fargo Center. Look for the puck drop to be a tad later than expected with possible ceremonies or introductions delaying things.
The Flyers will be looking to obviously get two points and possibly sweep the series against Vancouver for the year. Philadelphia opened the season up with a 3-2 shootout win as Ersson shone. Nervous energy might also be seen early on which would be a good thing. If the team sleepwalks through the first period, as is often the case coming home from a road trip, look for coach John Tortorella to start switching up lines or giving the proverbial gears to some players.
Meanwhile Vancouver, who opened the season with two home games before a four-game road trip (Tampa, Florida, Philadelphia, Chicago), may have some tired legs after facing the defending Stanley Cup champs. But unlike the Flyers who have three, the Canucks have zero back-to-back games in October. In fact their first back-to-back isn’t until mid-November against Chicago and Nashville. Look for the Canucks to come with a lot of speed and talent up front led by Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller.
Capitals vs. Flyers, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m. Eastern, Wells Fargo Center
Although at a slightly earlier than normal start, the Flyers will face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in what should be the first meeting of Ovechkin and Michkov. The Flyers should come into the game ready for their first divisional game of the season (one of only two in October) against a Washington team that, despite making the playoffs, has done a major retooling of sorts, bringing in Pierre -Luc Dubois who has now worn out his welcome in Columbus, Winnipeg and Los Angeles. Other newbies to the team include Andrew Mangiapane, defenseman Jakob Chychrun and goalie Logan Thompson (who was signing autographs as a member of the Knights at the 2024 NHL Draft when he was told he was no longer a member of Vegas).
Philadelphia should have a bit of an axe to grind after seeing their playoff hopes officially implode last year on a night when they were elminated by Detroit while on the ice against a Capitals team who got to the dance because they, er, put a puck in an empty net. Hopefully the Flyers’ Sam Ersson is able to have a big game and the Mad Russian one-ups Ovechkin with a multi-goal, multi-point evening.
Flyers vs. Capitals, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. Eastern, Capital One Arena
The home-and-home concludes with both teams probably using their backups after the number ones played the night before. And by game seven it should become clearer hopefully for all parties concerned whether Jett Luchanko is capable of staying with the club for the long haul. Or, if he hasn’t been sent back already, realizes the Flyers are just saying no for now, enabling him to get some time to get ready for the OHL season with Guelph (and a possible spot on the Canada’s World Junior Hockey Championship roster).
With any luck Tom Wilson didn’t do anything cheap in the first game that might warrant a response from Nic Deslauriers, Nick Seeler or (gasps) Sean Couturier. Often the latter game of home-and-home affairs have a bit more bite and edge to them as some venom has been produced after battling for sixty minutes or more the night before. Ideally, Ivan Fedotov is up to the task of shutting down the Capitals or at worst keeping the Flyers in the contest and not blowing the game completely for them. It’s still early in the season but you’d like to win both four-point games in regulation to bank those points now.
Wild vs. Flyers, Saturday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m. Eastern, Wells Fargo Center
The first home afternoon game is against the Minnesota Wild, a team whose body clock might be at noon Eastern time so could be caught off guard if the Flyers are able to jump on the Wild from the opening faceoff. A lot of times Philadelphia seems to get off to a slow start in afternoon affairs, often trying to play catch up and being fortunate if they can squeeze a loser point out of the contest. Regardless the Wild bring something old in Marc-Andre Fleury who resigned for another season with Minnesota. And something new in former Bruin Jakub Lauko and Graham Clarke from New Jersey. They also resigned Brock Faber to a boatload of money with $68 million heading his direction over eight years.
The Flyers have won the last three games against the Wild, including a 6-2 beatdown last October. It’s a good bet Ersson gets the nod here with the two days between starts. It’s also the Flyers’ first game against the Central Division, a batch of teams the Flyers essentially owned last year going 10-3-3 in those contests.
Canadiens vs. Flyers, Sunday, October 27, 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Center
The Flyers should be eager to pounce on the Habs, given the fact the last two meetings against them in Montreal didn’t go according to plan. Of course there was the 9-3 rout last season and then in the preseason the Flyers were the bug while Montreal was the windshield, beating them 5-0. There should be a bit of animosity developing with a 14-3 combined goal total the last two tilts. Most likely it will be another start for backup Ivan Fedotov. Fedotov was passable in his first start of the year in Calgary, holding the Flyers in while at times lost on his angles and making stops with anything he could.
Without rehashing much of the Michkov-Demidov screed some sect of the Canadiens’ fan base have dwelled on the last 12 months, look for Michkov to possibly have a breakout game on the power play. By this time the surprises passes and quick thinking plays that caught a lot of the Flyers off guard early in the season should becoming a bit of old hat for them now roughly two weeks in. And if the Flyers are thought of as a playoff team, it’s imperative they beat up or at least get points against teams that might be lower in the standings, especially if they’re in the Eastern Conference.
Flyers vs. Bruins, Tuesday, October 29, 7 p.m., TD Garden
The Flyers seemingly have always had a tough time against the Bruins, regardless of Boston’s injury status, whether they’re getting older or if they’re coming off a long road trip. The Bruins often seem to have the Flyers’ number, particularly when it’s at TD Garden. In the preseason the Flyers presented their best lineup of the seven games and lost to the Bruins who were minus some big names rather handily. The big, bad Bruins have gone from owning one of the best goaltending tandems in Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman to almost ending up without either to kick 2024-25 off. Swayman eventually resolved a slightly bitter tift with Boston, inking an eight-year deal worth $8.25 million AAV (the same amount Ullmark signed for in Ottawa days later on a four-year contract).
The last road game for the month should also be around the time that the Flyers will know if Luchanko is going to stick around or not (if he hasn’t been assigned back to the OHL by now). One would also expect the Bruins to be a team that Michkov would revel playing against. To start the season (and in exhbition) Michkov was never one to not engage in some tussling or some light jabs against any opponent regardless of their size. It’s doubtful (and perhaps very wise) for him to simply not drop the gloves and lett somebody far less talented do that for him. It does show he will not take abuse from anybody, which is a good sign. The fact the team has rallied around him to defend him is a huge plus also.
Blues vs. Flyers, Thursday, October 31, 7.p.m., Wells Fargo Center
The month concludes with the Flyers eleventh game at home against St. Louis. The Blues, long removed from their Stanley Cup win, did some adding to their roster through various methods, the boldest being the offer sheets outgoing general manager Doug Armstrong sent to Edmonton’s Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, taking advantage of an extremely tight cap situation the Oilers have and scurrying away with two young players (albeit paying a bit more than expected to land both).
Travis Konecny has had moderate success against St. Louis in his career, getting 10 points (four goals, six helpers) over 12 games. The Flyers would obviously like to remain healthy by this point early in the year and should be helped if Nick Seeler, who missed the opening two games due to a quirky injury to his leg, is back in fine form and settling in with Jamie Drysdale. Meanwhile, for a detailed history on how the Flyers did in some Halloween affairs during their history, check out this BSH blast from the past.
Bigger picture for the second half of October
The Flyers hopefully by now have some semblance of a power play that is heading towards being moderately effective, not the tire fire it was last season but definitely a long way to go before they rival the likes of Edmonton. This time period should also be the phase the team knows what the situation is concerning Jett Luchanko and if he’s done enough to stay. What is obvious though is these early games are just as important as the ones in March or April (unless you’re the Edmonton Oilers last year).
Another issue which may have some clarity that tangentially effects the Flyers is how Alexei Kolosov is faring in Lehigh Valley and whether or not he’s settling into his new environs and finding the transition a bit easier than last spring. If he’s having problems then it’s a concern he could be wanting to head back to the KHL, leaving the Flyers with a bit of a hole if either Ersson or Fedotov go down with an injury or if they (or Tortorella) lose all confidence in their play. Either way this situation might be not as hazy as it currently is.
