Philadelphia Flyers' Gut Check Time: Team Faces Long Road Trip After Xmas Break

After a rough loss to Florida before the break, the road doesn’t get any easier for the Philadelphia Flyers. 

With a streaking Penguins team led by a red-hot Sidney Crosby climbing the standings, it will be crucial for the Flyers to come out of this stretch with at least six wins.

The Flyers head out West to face some of the toughest completion in the NHL. The Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings are all top-notch teams that will test the Flyers defense, especially with the absence of veteran defender Chris Pronger.

After returning to the East for a home-and-home with the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers will have to contend with a tough group of Eastern Conference foes including the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins.

As far as offense goes, the Flyers have been fantastic this year, they are third in the league with 117 goals. The Flyers are plus-30 in goal differential as compared to the New Jersey Devils, who are minus-48! 

The team was also 7-2-1 over their last 10 games and, besides the game against Florida, have been playing lights-out.

The goal differential is a true testament to the solidification of the defensive group. Even with the loss of Pronger, the added depth in the offseason by GM Paul Holmgren is evident every game.

Veteran defender Sean O’Donnell will make his first trip to play against two former teams as a Flyer. O’Donnell played for the Kings twice and played on the Ducks team with Pronger that won the Cup.

With the New Year at hand, the Flyers need to put themselves in a better place to enter the playoffs and keep the momentum they have had through the beginning of the season.

The goaltending situation could become just that—a situation—if the Flyers don’t make a move soon. I expect a move to come after the grace period that the NHL honors around Christmas. 

I want to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a great new year!

Next 10 Flyers Games:

Dec. 28 at Vancouver Canucks

Dec. 30 at Los Angeles Kings

Dec. 31 at Anaheim Ducks

Jan. 2 at Detroit Red Wings

Jan. 6 at New Jersey Devils

Jan. 8 vs. New Jersey Devils

Jan. 11 at Buffalo Sabres

Jan. 13 at Boston Bruins

Jan. 14 at Atlanta Thrashers

Jan. 16 at New York Rangers