Last season, unfortunately, the Flyers' took a significant backward step in many areas including their home ice record: going just 12-12-4 to rank 25th in the NHL. Restoring a significant home-ice advantage in 2021-22 will go a long way toward challenging for a top spot in the Metropolitan Division. With a revamped roster and a pledge to commit teamwide to a greatly improved two-way game, the gauntlet has been thrown down to put words into action.
The Flyers open the regular season with a four-game homestand before embarking on the first road trip of the campaign. Here's a look at all four games and the challenge each game presents.
OCT 15 vs. Vancouver
Opening night games, regardless of the opponent, are filled with energy. This season in particular, with the Wells Fargo Center back to full capacity and key new players on the roster, getting the season off with a victory and two points in the bank takes on added importance for the Flyers.
Although Alain Vigneault is now eight seasons removed from the end of his six-year coaching tenure with the Canucks -- which included a run to Game 7 of the 2010-11 Stanley Cup Final -- there is a little of extra motivation any time someone opposes their former team whether it's in a playing capacity or behind the bench.
The Canucks, like the Flyers, had a down season in 2020-21 after taking a step forward the prior year. Nonetheless, the team has its share of dangerous players, led by Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson. The Flyers have not played the Canucks since the 2019-20 season and have not opened a season against them since 2000-01 (the NHL debut of the Sedin twins on the Vancouver side and Justin Williams for the Flyers).
OCT 18 vs. Seattle
This game will be the Flyers' first-ever look at the brand new Seattle Kraken. There are no pre-scouts to go by; it's a blank canvas. However, this game marks the return to Philadelphia in a head coaching capacity by former Flyers bench boss Dave Hakstol.
The Kraken focused much of their offseason strategy on building their inaugural season defense corps and goaltending. This is more of a traditional model than what the Vegas Golden Knights did in their first season.
OCT 20 vs. Boston
After the Flyers play two Western Division clubs to open the season, they will face one of their traditional Eastern rivals. The Flyers had a very rough season series against the Bruins in 2020-21 after having success against them the previous year.
In particular, the Boston power play tortured the Flyers a season ago. The Flyers' new-look penalty kill with the likes of Cam Atkinson and Ryan Ellis will be put to the test by Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrak, Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy. Winning the special teams battle will go a long way toward a better outcome when the Flyers play the Bruins this coming season.
OCT 23 vs. Florida
The Panthers don't get much fanfare but they are a deep and well coached club under Joel Quenneville. It was already tough to contend with the likes of Jonathan Huberdeau and reigning Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov and
Carter Verhaeghe before the Panthers added Sam Reinhart in the offseason.
The top of the Panthers' blueline is also formidable with Aaron Ekblad and Mackenzie Weegar. Sergei Bobrovsky has not shown his old Vezina Trophy caliber form the last couple seasons but, if he falters, young Spencer Knight has the makings of a rising star.
The Flyers did not play Florida last season. The team may not be quite to the level of the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Lightning but they are a handful for any opponent. The Panthers' 37-14-5 regular season record last year was not a fluke, and the team may even be improved from that pace.
