Noah Cates
The final 15 games for the Flyers will serve as a chance to evaluate. They will provide a look at some new faces entering the lineup in the last couple of weeks and maybe even a new face or two to come down the road. It is a way to take inventory going into the offseason – what does the team already have and what does it need even more of on the roster moving forward?
The Flyers took a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild to close out the 1-4-0 road trip, also knocking them out of playoff contention for the second straight season.
The Flyers face the Minnesota Wild, who come in on a six-game winning streak. The Flyers, meanwhile, have losses in three of the four games on the road trip.
As the trade deadline passes and the Flyers open up a few roster spots, it presents more of an opportunity for younger players to get more of a look at increased roles in the NHL. GM Chuck Fletcher used Sunday’s game as an example of what he hopes to see for the rest of the season, “energy, hard work, young players playing a bigger role and getting an opportunity to show what they can do for next year.”
Flyers development camp wrapped up with a 3-on-3 tournament on Friday evening and a 5-on-5 scrimmage and shootout on Saturday evening.
A goal by Finland with 1:26 remaining broke a 2-2 tie and lifted Finland to the gold medal. The US claimed the silver medal.
The United States came away with a 2-1 win over Russia in the first semi-final match to advance to Saturday’s Gold Medal Game. They will face Finland, who defeated Switzerland by a score of 6-1.
The United States moved to the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Czech Republic in Wednesday’s quarterfinals action, while heavyweights Sweden and Canada were both handed upset losses, ending their tournament.
The Flyers have seven prospects in 2019 World Junior Championships, tied for the most around the NHL. All seven have advanced past the group rounds to the tournament portion, which begins on Wednesday with the quarterfinals.
The Flyers have been well represented in the World Junior Championships in the past and this year will be no different. In total, seven Flyers prospects will be participating in the World Junior Championships, starting on Wednesday, Dec. 26.
