Articles by Kevin Durso (5321)
Hockey is back. The NHL drops the puck on the 2020-21 season at last on Wednesday evening, and the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins are once again welcoming you back. The season opener from Wells Fargo Center is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
The start of a new season is finally upon us. The Flyers make their return on Wednesday night when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before they do, let’s take a look at 10 storylines that will be worth watching as the season progresses.
The final day before the start of the 2020-21 season is here, and that means roster decisions are due. The Flyers have officially announced their roster for opening night of the 2020-21 season.
What Alain Vigneault has brought in that time has been refreshing. For the better part of a decade, the Flyers lacked a coach that seemed to challenge a steady core group of players, that didn’t demand the same excellence the fans did, that was satisfied with a participation award in the playoffs, but never advancing. That’s not Vigneault’s style.
Seven players from the 41-man training camp roster were placed on waivers for the purposes of going to the AHL or taxi squad that will allow the Flyers to make recalls much easier in this unprecedented season.
The final tuneup for the Flyers before the official start of the regular season came on Sunday night when two rosters skated in a 60-minute scrimmage followed by a shootout at Wells Fargo Center.
Preparations continued for the start of the Flyers season in a matter of four days. An intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday will be treated like a game day and it gives the coaching staff a chance to really evaluate the players in game conditions.
One of the subjects that was discussed a lot during the playoff run over the summer was the lack of success for the Flyers power play. That was an area of focus during training camp on Friday, as the team returned to the ice after an off day on Thursday.
In these unknown times, one thing has not changed for the Flyers. There are expectations this year, higher than they have been in quite some time. After making a playoff run this summer that came one win short of a conference final appearance, there is no turning back for the franchise. The goal is not just about playoffs, it is about making another run.
Shayne Gostisbehere admitted he hasn’t been healthy in quite some time and that even returning during the summer showed he wasn’t where he wanted to be. In a pre-camp conversation with Vigneault, he simply wanted to express that he was healthy and wanted to help the Flyers win.