VOORHEES, N.J. — The Flyers’ 2025-26 season has offered a range of interpretations.
Some observers might view the team as being in a state of limbo — not poor enough to secure a top draft pick, yet not strong enough for a genuine playoff contention.
Conversely, others might perceive it as a developing team that has shown progress from the previous season, achieving the advancements envisioned under its new head coach.
Despite dropping 12 of their last 15 contests before the Olympic break, the Flyers have maintained an intriguing narrative.
“When you assess the season, I believe if you can overlook that middle period where we lost a string of games, which are tough to emerge from,” Travis Sanheim remarked Saturday after the morning skate, “apart from that, I’ve been pleased with much of our play. We’ve performed well against strong teams, demonstrating that we possess a capable hockey team and can compete with and win against anyone, truly.”
The Flyers have secured six victories in their past eight games and commenced Saturday trailing the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card position by five points, with 17 games remaining. As they prepare to host the Blue Jackets (7:30 p.m. ET/NBCSP), one of the teams they are aiming to surpass, they are conscious of the competitive landscape in the East.
“At this moment, all we can manage is our own efforts, playing effective hockey, winning games, and we’ll see what transpires,” Sanheim affirmed. “We understand the challenge ahead; clearly, many teams are in the race, and we need to overtake several, so truly, our performance is the only factor we control.”
Two nights ago, the Flyers secured a 3-2 shootout triumph on the road against the Wild, a prominent Western Conference club. The West, while featuring strong top teams, does not possess the same overall depth as the East. In fact, the Flyers would currently have a four-point advantage over the West’s second wild-card spot. If they were competing in the Pacific Division, they would be just two points shy of first place. They would, in fact, hold third place in that division due to the tiebreaker of fewer games played.
The Flyers likely have little concern for such hypotheticals. Nevertheless, they identify more positive aspects in their season than critics might currently acknowledge. They hold a record of 31-23-11 in Rick Tocchet’s initial year, following a 33-39-10 finish last season.
“I simply disregard external commentary,” Tocchet stated. “The players have shown commendable resilience, securing wins in their most recent games. Going into Minnesota, I’m certain many people had already marked that down as a loss.”
Saturday night offers the Flyers another crucial contest on home ice.
“Listen, every single game is significant,” Tocchet emphasized. “For me, it’s a playoff game. We must treat it as a playoff game, regardless of the circumstances.
“It’s beneficial for young players, it aids the growth of our young players to participate in these kinds of games, to prepare as if it’s a playoff match. So, I’m keen to see how we react.”