Western Canada trip should reveal more about Vigneault’s team
The blessing of a four-game homestand to begin a season, even if it did include validation tests against the Bruins and Panthers, left the Flyers equally excited and curious.
Though they had secured at least a point in three of the games, they lost two and took a one-game losing streak into Western Canada, where they would learn what much of it meant.
Wednesday night at 10, they will visit the 5-0-0 Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL with 13 points. Thursday at 10, they will be in Vancouver, having lost in a shootout to the Canucks, 5-4, in the season opener. The Flyers will face the Calgary Flames, who won three of their first five, Saturday night at 10.
“Initially when I saw it, I wasn’t crazy about having four home games at the beginning,” Alain Vigneault said. “But I thought about the practice time we would be able to get, the training camp and the whole week in between our last exhibition and our first game. I really didn’t mind it. I think we got a lot accomplished as a team as far as getting on the same page.
“Now we are going on the road for three games in four nights in Canada. It is going to be a challenging swing, but we are going to find out more about our group. So far, I have liked what I have found out.”
The Flyers are 2-1-1, have received heavy production from their top two lines and have enjoyed improvement over last season with their reimagined defense. They jetted to Edmonton Monday, practiced Tuesday and will use Carter Hart in goal Wednesday night.
The Flyers expect the threegame test to reveal plenty about themselves.
“I’m really looking forward to this trip,” Vigneault said. “We’re going to be in hockey mode. Three games in four nights. That’s going to be our total focus. The quality of these teams on the road is going to be a good measuring stick as to where we are.
“I know we need to continue to improve, but I like where we are right now and I like the fact we’re playing that type of opposition to see if we can come up with a couple big wins.”
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Despite appearing to show progress Monday, Ryan Ellis will not play against Edmonton.
Ellis missed the Flyers’ last game, a 4-2 loss to visiting Florida, due to injury. The defenseman had one goal and three assists in his first three games. Nick Seeler is active and will be in the rotation.
Patrick Brown, whose entry into Canada was complicated after he’d served a coronavirus quarantine, could be available for his first game as a Flyer Wednesday.
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Danny Briere, Donald Brashear, Dave Brown, Lindsay Carson, Riley Cote, Murray Craven, Robert Esche, Pelle Eklund, Todd Fedoruk, Simon Gagne, Mark Howe, Adam Hall, Scott Hartnell, Paul Holmgren, Mike Knuble, Mitch Lamoureux, Reggie Leach, John LeClair, Eric Lindros, Neil Little, Joffrey Lupul, Brad Marsh, Scott Mellanby, Brian Propp, Kjell Samuelsson, Nick Schultz, Ron Sutter, Chris Therien, Rick Tocchet, Scottie Upshall and Joe Watson will be among the participants in the Nov. 15 Orange & Black Alumni Game at the Wells Fargo Center.
Tickets, which start at $35, are available.