Of course it is but people are characterizing players individual play as well as the team's overall play inaccurately. Ultimately, scoring more goals and winning is what matters. However when we look at some relative information, it paints a truer picture and what we can expect to happen. For example, many seem to think that DeAngelo is playing really well. One poster even says he is very good defensively. Not the case in reality. That can be done with most players on the team. When we look at the Flyers as a whole after 3 games. They're the 3rd worst team in the league in CF%. 3rd worst in xGF%. 2nd worst in the league in Scoring chances for %. 4th worst in the league in HDCF%. This season is eerily similar to last season. The Flyers are being propped up by goaltending and some hot early scoring. That is bound to change.
- MJL

Agreed. It's looking a lot like the trend of the prior year. Winning despite the general tenor of their play. Then they revert back to their lowly mean. The only chance that this year is different is that they seem to be much more hard working and they don't seem to get down when they're losing. Time will tell.

Surely they would want Hayes back in a deal to offset Horvat. I kid.
- furio16

The Flyers could get any of their D men except Hughes in an expanded trade. Poolman, Schenn, Myers etc. Lol OEL too.

If that's the woman who did the Flyers game last night, I thought she was very bad. The amount of times she got tongue tied and stumbled over her words was astounding.
- Feanor

New to the gig, that'll get better with time. I'm more interested in what she's saying versus how she's saying it. She's actually breaking down plays on a technical level, which I like.

New to the gig, that'll get better with time. I'm more interested in what she's saying versus how she's saying it.
- Tomahawk

That's fair. I didn't realize she's brand new.

I wasn't a big fan of the super basic storylines they were pushing, but that's ESPN's fault I suppose.

Flyers claimed Sedlak on waivers

The Flyers could get any of their D men except Hughes in an expanded trade. Poolman, Schenn, Myers etc. Lol OEL too.
- Minnyhock

Well Chuck is good at planning for the future. Myers has his name all over it. He isn't as bad as made out to be either.

Agreed. It's looking a lot like the trend of the prior year. Winning despite the general tenor of their play. Then they revert back to their lowly mean. The only chance that this year is different is that they seem to be much more hard working and they don't seem to get down when they're losing. Time will tell.
- Letterkenney

I agree with those that are saying that the team is playing with more effort and jam to start the season. That the scoring chances against are not as catastrophically as bad. The outcomes and puck luck are likely to change. Rebounds right to sticks aren't going to last. Then it becomes a mental battle when things change and confidence erodes. Tortorella has limited bullets in his gun and he's using most already. Hopefully Couturier and Atkinson can get back and we'll see,

I thought AJ Mleczko was good last night. She has more of a Canadian broadcast style, sticking to what's going on the ice instead of playing the wiseass. Also liked that she wasn't scared to dive into the hockey nuance instead of painting everything in the same broad dramatic strokes.

Bucci doing PBP tho... terrible. People hate Leah Hextall, but I'd rather listen to her than Bucci.
- Tomahawk

I used to like Bucci for his NHL Tonight show back in the day, but as a PBP he's a dumpster fire. Absolutely boring.

Dunno, I haven't really liked Sanny defensively either.
- Tomahawk

He looks off

We need a dman who can be fine from a defensive standpoint. Provorov and DeAngelo are getting gashed for scoring chances, like that one last night where 37 year old Corey Perry cut thru them like he was McDavid.

Sanheim led the defense in ES scoring the past 3 years with 10 more ESP than Provorov despite playing 126 fewer minutes. Don't be shocked if he leads the defense in that again this season.
- Feanor

THe latter portion of this is exactly why I made the comment, he just doesn’t seem to be contributing up ice. Few rushes that have led to nothing.

I used to like Bucci for his NHL Tonight show back in the day, but as a PBP he's a dumpster fire. Absolutely boring.
- Letterkenney

He can't just stick to calling the action, he's tries so hard to be funny on top of it.

Plus, he mumbles. Can't understand what he's saying half the time.

He looks off
- ClaudeFather

To be fair, they all look kinda off at ES.

I agree with those that are saying that the team is playing with more effort and jam to start the season. That the scoring chances against are not as catastrophically as bad. The outcomes and puck luck are likely to change. Rebounds right to sticks aren't going to last. Then it becomes a mental battle when things change and confidence erodes. Tortorella has limited bullets in his gun and he's using most already. Hopefully Couturier and Atkinson can get back and we'll see,
- MJL

So far, I'm actually enjoying watching the games again. It's been a long while since I could say that. But, yes, it's true that puck luck is going to change. What few tools that Torts has will run out. And that's when his best tool will be that "bus" he spoke of with many players being shuffled in and out frequently. 3 - 0 and I still don't think Torts is under any illusions. I'm very interested to see the effect that a Coots/Cam return will have.

I thought AJ Mleczko was good last night. She has more of a Canadian broadcast style, sticking to what's going on the ice instead of playing the wiseass. Also liked that she wasn't scared to dive into the hockey nuance instead of painting everything in the same broad dramatic strokes.

Bucci doing PBP tho... terrible. People hate Leah Hextall, but I'd rather listen to her than Bucci.
- Tomahawk

I agree, she was good. Seems to know her stuff. My first time listening to her.

ESPN between periods is horrible.

So far, I'm actually enjoying watching the games again. It's been a long while since I could say that. But, yes, it's true that puck luck is going to change. What few tools that Torts has will run out. And that's when his best tool will be that "bus" he spoke of with many players being shuffled in and out frequently. 3 - 0 and I still don't think Torts is under any illusions. I'm very interested to see the effect that a Coots/Cam return will have.
- Letterkenney

When the team is winning, scoring some goals and getting really good goaltending, it's fun to watch. I see a lot of things I like but not under any illusion.

When the team is winning, scoring some goals and getting really good goaltending, it's fun to watch. I see a lot of things I like but not under any illusion.
- MJL

Bro what? Lmao. Atkinson, Tippett, Gauthier is something I’d rather have right now than 2 aging ex stars and an awful dman.
- Richieattack18

Gauthier scored a nice goal for Boston College last night. I assume film available if they provide highlights on hockey team website.

I agree, she was good. Seems to know her stuff. My first time listening to her.

ESPN between periods is horrible.
- Scoob

Compare it to tnt or tsn and it’s night and day. Other than Weeks and Bouch the entire nhl staff at espn need to go. They are an abomination.

No way moving Prov for Horvat. Also moving Sanheim up to backfill Provy if traded doesn’t work for me.

Sanheim has his skillset, but he is not the shot blocker or physical player Provy is.

Provy works w a puck mover. Always kinda has and prob always will. He got turned inside out last night along the boards, but for the most part has been very good thus far. Helps that he is off PP1.

Also, can we stop with the possession stats nonsense. Ya gotta watch the games… ya gotta go to the games.

I agree, she was good. Seems to know her stuff. My first time listening to her.

ESPN between periods is horrible.
- Scoob

I've seen her a bit as a studio analyst for the Islanders. I think she does a good job.

When the team is winning, scoring some goals and getting really good goaltending, it's fun to watch. I see a lot of things I like but not under any illusion.
- MJL

This sums it up nicely.
They've been fun to watch so far.

No way moving Prov for Horvat. Also moving Sanheim up to backfill Provy if traded doesn’t work for me.

Sanheim has his skillset, but he is not the shot blocker or physical player Provy is.

Provy works w a puck mover. Always kinda has and prob always will. He got turned inside out last night along the boards, but for the most part has been very good thus far. Helps that he is off PP1.

Also, can we stop with the possession stats nonsense. Ya gotta watch the games… ya gotta go to the games.
- Joe Nardone

If you watch the games you can easily tell which players spend most of the night stuck in their own zone letting the goalie get pelted with rubber.

Also, can we stop with the possession stats nonsense. Ya gotta watch the games… ya gotta go to the games.
- Joe Nardone

Many times those stats show that some aren't seeing what they think they're seeing. They show factually what happens on the ice.

That's fair. I didn't realize she's brand new.

I wasn't a big fan of the super basic storylines they were pushing, but that's ESPN's fault I suppose.
- Feanor

A J has been broadcasting for awhile. She was the 1st woman to do analysis in a postseason NHL game in 2018. Like her or not, what you see now is what you get.

This sums it up nicely.
They've been fun to watch so far.
- rayc16

I agree. The fancy stats pretty much tell us this team will fall back to earth just as they did after they had their good start last year.

The difference for me is that last season every game was a slog. A boring, listless team going through the motions every time they fell behind.

This team, so far, has a completely different feel. You can see the effort. It's more fun.