The Philadelphia Flyers played the Florida Panthers to begin the season on a night when it seemed like everything went wrong for the Philly fans. The Flyers lost 2-1, the Phillies lost in extra innings to be eliminated from the Postseason, and the Eagles lost their game handily. The Flyers are the focus, and the result was expected. How they ended up there was a surprise.

They played a tight game against the Panthers and only lost by one goal. This is the defending Stanley Cup champions, and they held their own, for the most part. The big surprise was of all positions, the goaltending was their strength. 

Dan Vladar’s Strong Start

Last season, the Flyers had the worst goaltending in the NHL. It, without question, let them down the most and caused their last-place finish in the Metropolitan Division. They signed Dan Vladar in the summer as a hopeful to split starts with Samuel Ersson. 

The opening night game proved he can be much more than that. He stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced and was the reason the game was close. The second goal, the dagger from Brad Marchand, is a tough one to let in but hard to pin on him. The shot caught Vladar by surprise and went to the top shelf. Otherwise, he was the Flyers bright spot.

Taking a step back, there’s a chance this is Vladar’s breakthrough. Throughout his career, he’s been a backup and never been asked to take the starting net. At 28 years old, he’s starting to hit his stride as a goaltender and can take on a greater role as a result. The Flyers only saw one start from Vladar, and it’s hard to read much into it. There’s a chance he regresses to the .895 save percentage (SV%) goaltender he’s been throughout his career. That said, it was a great start and one that gives the team some optimism, even if the rest of the roster doesn’t provide any optimism. 

Flyers Struggled Everywhere Else

This game featured the back-to-back Stanley Cup winners and a rebuilding team still searching for an identity. It showed in the Thursday contest. The Panthers set the tone with their forechecking and puck movement, controlling the game from the start. 

The only positive for the Flyers was the goaltender. The defense didn’t give Vladar any breaks as they allowed the Panthers to fire 34 shots on him. Travis Sanheim’s ice time eclipsed 26 minutes, a sign that there isn’t much confidence in the rest of the defensive unit. The offense also struggled. The top six for the Flyers, the two lines they needed to show up for any hopes of a victory, were nonexistent. 

The cynical way of looking at this game is that without Vladar, they lose 6-1. There’s also a chance that this is one of the best performances they get all season out of Vladar, and he regresses. The Flyers got a great start in their first game but can’t rely on them moving forward. The game showed that they have an answer in the net. The question marks are everywhere else. 

The Signs of a Poorly Coached Team

If you ask a casual hockey fan what a poorly coached team looks like, they talk about mistakes, penalties, and allowing the other team to control the pace. All three issues surfaced in Rick Tocchet’s coaching debut with the Flyers. He’s known for getting the most out of his players but the opposite happened on Thursday night. 

In a game where the Panthers established the forecheck and pressured the Flyers, the adjustment needed was controlling the puck and setting up the offense. The Flyers only got 20 shots on the net. The only goal came from Noah Cates, who got to the dirty areas to net the rebound, a big credit to the depth forward.  

The other issue is the lack of desperation from Tocchet. The Flyers were trailing 2-1 in the third period and needed to lean on their top skaters. Matvei Michkov spent minimal time on the ice, 14:54 in the game to be exact. The hope was that Tocchet would get the most out of the young players and the rising star in the top six. He didn’t on opening night (it’s worth adding that Jett Luchanko and Nikita Grebenkin were healthy scratches). 

Matvei Michkov skating for the Philadelphia FlyersMatvei Michkov’s ice time in Thursday’s loss was below his average for last season. Matvei Michkov AP Photo/Matt Slocum

In the long run, Tocchet is expected to turn things around. His first behind the Flyers bench, however, is a forgettable one. 

Why The Loss Isn’t Worth The Overreaction

It’s the first game of the season, and there are 81 more to go. It’s a long season to say the least. This loss also came against the Panthers, the best team in the NHL. When needed, the Panthers know how to win games, and their elite players can take over, as they did on Thursday night. 

This is also a Flyers team that needs time to mature. Give this group a few weeks to find its footing, and they’ll be a better group. The past game showed the concerns for a rebuilding team. However, the key is to remember that they are rebuilding. The loss showed that even as they were outplayed, they are making progress. 

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