After months of wondering what the 2019-20 Philadelphia Flyers would look like on the ice we got our first viewing today and it was…surprisingly great? That’s not to say this particular writer or most of the people reading this thought the Orange and Black weren’t improved compared to the 2018-19 roster, but the way this team generated chances and limited the Chicago Blackhawks’ offensive zone time was unexpected.
To go along with the nice surprise of a team doing the little things to win, the lines and pairs Alain Vigneault threw together for today’s game didn’t feel like the optimal lineup. However the trios of Claude Giroux-Kevin Hayes-Jakub Voracek and Oskar-Lindblom-Sean Couturier-Travis Konecny both finished with corsi-for percentages and expected goals-for percentages over 60 while the latter line potted three goals in the win. On defense the tandem of Travis Sanheim and Matt Niskanen showed the capabilities of a play-driving couple while also having a helping hand in the team’s first goal of the season.
These topics were discussed in today’s postgame reaction as well as:
- How that Lindblom-Couturier-Konecny may be the best thing that has ever happened to me, you, or anybody that has walked the face of the planet.
- How to get Shayne Gostisbehere away from being paired with Robert Hagg.
- Carter Hart’s play in the season opener.
- Improvements in overall team speed and defensive zone urgency.
- Ivan Provorov’s notable turnovers.
- Whether or not this will last for one game./
